A tense search is underway in the Ionian Sea for 66-year-old Spanish businessman Juan José Mutilba Obregón, who went missing after falling overboard from his sailing vessel off the coast of Pylos, southwestern Greece. The incident occurred during a voyage from Syracuse, Sicily, to Pylos — a journey the couple had begun on 17 August.
What Happened?
According to reports from Spanish media and family accounts, Mutilba slipped on the blood of a large tuna he had just caught early on the morning of 18 August. While attempting to move the fish aboard, he lost his footing and plunged into the sea. His 67-year-old wife tried to help but was unable to stop or stabilize the vessel. The sailboat continued drifting away from the location where he fell — leaving him behind in open water.
She reportedly heard him shouting, “Menchu, Menchu, turn off the engine!” — a desperate plea for her to halt the boat. Though she held a recreational boating license obtained years earlier, she was unprepared to manage such an emergency alone. With no mobile signal in the area, she remained stranded aboard the unmanned vessel for approximately 72 hours.
Rescue Efforts Mobilized
On Friday, 21 August, she regained cellular reception and contacted a family friend with maritime experience. He immediately alerted Spain’s Maritime Rescue Service (SASEMAR), which coordinated with Greek and Italian authorities to launch a joint search-and-rescue operation.
The vessel involved was flying the French flag and was located about 18 nautical miles off Pylos when the incident occurred. The Hellenic Coast Guard and the Port Authority of Pylos were promptly notified via the Unified Coordination Centre for Search and Rescue at the Hellenic Coast Guard Headquarters. Ground patrols, two Coast Guard patrol boats, and the fishing vessel Ioanna-Matina were deployed to scour the area.
Both Greek and Italian maritime authorities are actively participating in the operation, while Spanish officials continue to monitor developments closely. As of now, Mutilba remains unlocated — and the search continues across the Ionian waters near Pylos.