Woman sailor drifts 13 days on raft after pirate attack

by Sail-World Cruising on 24 Apr 2010 Mystery surrounds the discovery of a woman sailor who had been drifting on a raft for 13 days in the Caribbean after being attacked by pirates, she told rescuers. She was discovered this week by the cargo ship San Fernando.

She also told the crew of San Fernando that she and her husband had been sailing on their yacht when they were attacked by the pirates. Set adrift on the raft, she then told how her dead husband had been lying beside her until she pushed him overboard.

The woman, who has German nationality but has not yet been named, was discovered in waters close to the Caribbean Island of Curacao. The crew gave her medical treatment, as she was suffering from sun blisters, and then took her to Willemstad.

Local press has reported of Venezuelan pirates who had seized their opportunity off the coast of Venezuela. However, in a strange turn, it has also been reported that the yacht has been discovered on the coast of Venezuela, but with the husband's body on board.

The coast guard subsequently took charge of the woman and brought her to the a wharf near the Queen Juliana Bridge where both police officers and the consul for Germany, Bas Kooijman, awaited her. After questioning she was taken to the local hospital for further treatment.

Which of the two stories is true, and whether the woman had been hallucinating is unclear, because the Curacao authorities are refusing further information while they conduct an investigation into the strange and tragic case.