Fishermen Rescued After 35 Days Lost at Sea; One Confirmed Dead

The two Jamaican fishermen who went missing over a month ago have been located, but tragically, one of the men was found dead after spending 35 days adrift at sea. The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) confirmed on Wednesday that the fishermen were discovered with the assistance of Honduran authorities.

The men were last seen on October 29, when they departed Middle Cay in a blue-and-red vessel from the Pedro Banks, heading toward Belmont in Westmoreland. The fishermen ran out of fuel during their journey, leading to their vessel being stranded in the open waters. Family members raised the alarm after the men failed to return, prompting the JDF to launch a search operation.

Between October 29 and November 1, the JDF deployed air and maritime assets to search for the missing men. Despite initial efforts, the fishermen’s location remained unknown until Wednesday, when authorities in Honduras reported finding them.

The JDF issued alerts to maritime authorities in nearby regions, including the Cayman Islands, Haiti, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, urging them to be on the lookout for the missing vessel. In the end, the men were located far from home, their survival in question after weeks at sea.

“The men’s families have been notified of their status, and the JDF, along with Honduran authorities, are working together to coordinate their repatriation,” a JDF spokesperson said. The agency did not specify the exact circumstances of the fisherman’s death, but indicated that the remaining survivor was found alive.

The JDF also used the opportunity to remind the public and maritime operators that overdue vessels or those in distress should be reported immediately to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) at (876) 967-8193.