Search for missing Spanish businessman suspended in Ionian Sea

Italian authorities have concluded their search for 66-year-old Spanish businessman Juan José Mutillba Obregón, who went missing in the Ionian Sea after falling overboard from his vessel.

The family was informed of the decision by the Spanish Rescue Service, which relayed the Italian authorities' notification to cease operations after several days of intensive searching. Obregón had departed from Syracuse, Sicily, on August 17, accompanied by his wife, Carmen, with their destination being Pylos, Greece.

The incident occurred the following day when Obregón reportedly slipped and fell into the sea while attempting to clean a tuna he had caught. His wife, Carmen, panicked and was unable to immediately control the boat, which continued its course, moving her away from the location where her husband had fallen.

Carmen found herself alone on the boat for three days with no phone signal, preventing her from alerting authorities. Meanwhile, a friend of the couple noticed the boat deviating from its planned route and raised an alarm. When Carmen's mobile phone signal was restored on August 21, she was able to contact shore, initiating the international search and rescue protocol.

Despite extensive efforts involving aircraft from the Italian Coast Guard and assistance from nearby commercial vessels, no trace of Obregón has been found. The family, particularly the businessman's son Sergio, has expressed dissatisfaction with what they describe as insufficient institutional support from the Spanish side and believes that public attention played a significant role in prolonging the search. They are now appealing to Spanish authorities to provide further assistance to continue the search.

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The only solution we have is to try to convince the Spanish authorities to really help us, so that the search can continue for a few more days.