a castaway is finally headed home (sydney connor, period 5)

The islanders of Ebon Atoll (one of the Marshall Islands off the coast of Australia) were surprised to discover a tattered man washed ashore upon their beach last January.  They took him to their village, where he consumed a vast quantity of pancakes before telling them his remarkable story, pieced together with the help of a child who had learned bits and pieces of Spanish via the children's TV series "Dora the Explorer".

The castaway, named Jose Salvador Alvarenga, had begun his journey 13 months earlier on a fishing trip with his friend.  The expedition was intended to last one day, but the winds of an approaching storm threw them off course, and the boat's motor gave out.  Without a radio to connect them to the rest of humanity, the pair found themselves lost at sea.  Jose's friend refused to eat raw birds and turtles and therefore died of starvation after four weeks, leaving Jose adrift alone in the ocean for an entire year.

His tale was met with substantial doubt, but experts claim that the story is indeed plausible, and Jose's frail physique and ragged facade would suggest nothing less.  

Jose is apparently in good spirits despite his physical condition and is currently making his way home to Mexico after a flight connection in Hawaii.

In my opinion, his story is remarkable.  I hope he has a safe trip back home and enjoys his time in Hawaii.  

Original article here.