Indonesian Fisherman Rescued After 26 Days Adrift Reaches Shanghai

An Indonesian fisherman who spent 26 days adrift at sea has finally reached dry land. The man, rescued by a French-flagged LNG carrier, arrived at Shanghai's Yangshan Port on Wednesday when the vessel berthed.

Officials from the Yangshan Border Inspection Station acted swiftly upon the ship's arrival. They issued the fisherman temporary travel documents and an entry permit, clearing him to transit through Shanghai Port on his journey back to Indonesia.

The rescued man, identified as Esau Sidemo, described his ordeal. "While I was adrift, I ate only the fish I caught," he said. "I had only three portions of dried fish left from what I'd originally brought with me. I ate it with a simple sauce and somehow made it through. I kept going and refused to give up, and that's how I survived."

The rescue itself was a dramatic operation. Klijn Edwin, the French captain of the vessel Endeavour, recounted the moment they spotted the fisherman. "He jumped at sea from his craft," Edwin said. "The raft may be 200 meters from our ship, but I was still approaching to catch him."

Jin Yaohua, Deputy Captain of the 1st Patrol Unit at the Yangshan Border Inspection Station, explained the coordination involved. "After receiving the vessel's report and the individual's own account, we immediately contacted his country's consulate in Shanghai and requested their assistance in verifying his identity and handling the necessary procedures for his return," Jin said.

Officials confirmed that the fisherman is in normal health based on their on-site assessment. He will undergo basic medical checks in Shanghai before returning to his home country.