Two fishermen rescued from Pacific after clinging onto cool box with no food or water for five days

Published: 01:27, 22 August 2026 | Updated: 01:41, 22 August 2026 Two fishermen have been rescued after being adrift in the Pacific clinging to a cool box for five days without food or water.   Daniel Guerrero Martinez, 53, and Jose Luis Portela Villegas, 32, were recovered by Mexican Navy personnel on August 19 in waters off the municipality of Tonala, Chiapas, after disappearing on a fishing trip days earlier.  The men, who embarked on the fishing trip from a small town close to Guatemala, ran into trouble after their boat - the Camaronera - sank and they became stranded in the Pacific waters. The pair, whose last radio contact was recorded on August 14, were able to survive after climbing into a cool box that was onboard their boat, where they took refuge.  After the men failed to return from their trip, a fishing cooperative sent out a distress call saying it had lost contact with them and alerted Mexico's Navy.  A search operation was subsequently launched involving naval surface units and aircraft operating under a coordinated system using a ship, an interceptor boat and an aircraft, enabling rescuers to extend their search mission across the Pacific.  Boats were also dispatched to replicate the journey the men took in the hopes they could be traced.  Following days of searching, they were located approximately 130 nautical miles, or 240.76kilometres, from the coast of Chiapas.  Two fishermen adrift in the Pacific without food and water for five days have been rescued following an extensive search operation Daniel Guerrero Martinez and Jose Luis Portela Villegas were recovered by Mexican Navy personnel after disappearing on a fishing trip  The men were able to survive after climbing into a cool box that was onboard their boat, where they took refuge  Naval medical personnel assessed both men before they were transported by helicopter to hospital, where they were treated for severe dehydration Both men were later reunited with their families in Paredon, a coastal village in Chiapas, Mexico A Mexican Navy ocean patrol vessel travelled to the area and carried out the rescue, bringing both fishermen aboard.  Footage of the rescue shows the fishermen in open water, leaning against the sides of the blue cool box as they remain afloat.  Naval medical personnel assessed both men before they were transported by helicopter to hospital, where they were treated for severe dehydration.  The pair were later reunited with their families in Paredon, a coastal village in Chiapas, Mexico. Judith Torres Vera, Chiapas Fisheries and Aquaculture Secretary, confirmed the news of the men's safe return to land to waiting relatives. 'We have just been informed that Daniel and José Luis have appeared,' she said, adding: 'We are very happy that our colleagues have appeared.' An investigation into the incident has since been launched, with authorities claiming bad weather and windy conditions caused the boat to drift out to sea. A statement released by Mexico's Navy said: 'Two fishermen who remained adrift on a cooler for five days were located and rescued by naval personnel more than 240 kilometres from the coast of Chiapas.' It added the coordinated deployment 'made it possible to expand the search, locate them, bring them to safety and reunite them with their families.'