A dramatic maritime incident has unfolded in the Ionian Sea involving a missing 66-year-old Spanish businessman who fell overboard from his catamaran on August 18. According to witness accounts and official reports, the man reportedly hooked a large fish while sailing with his wife — a 67-year-old woman who holds a boating license — off the southern Peloponnese near Sapientza Island. While attempting to haul in the catch, he allegedly slipped on the fish’s blood and plunged into the sea.
Panic and Helplessness Aboard
His wife, described by rescuers as terrified and in acute shock, was unable to stop the vessel’s engines. As the catamaran continued drifting uncontrolled, it rapidly moved away from the spot where he disappeared. The man was heard shouting, “Menchu, Menchu, shut off the engine!” — calling out his wife’s name in desperation.
Rescue Operation Led by Local Captain
Alexandros Triantos, a local captain operating in the area, was alerted by the Port Authority of Pylos at 8 a.m. that a woman was stranded aboard an unmanned sailing vessel in danger. Triantos immediately suspended his scheduled fishing tourism activities, transferred passengers to another vessel, and set off toward the reported location — some 20 nautical miles southwest of Sapientza, near Greece’s southernmost tip.
After a three-hour journey, he located the catamaran accompanied by Port Authority officials. Speaking to Live News, Triantos recounted how the woman appeared deeply traumatized. Using limited English, she conveyed her distress and confirmed she had been alone aboard since the accident. With winds reaching Force 4–5 on the Beaufort scale and increasingly rough seas, Triantos initiated an immediate tow to ensure safety.
The operation took six hours to complete — guiding the vessel into the marina of Pylos, where authorities were already waiting. Triantos noted the woman remained visibly anxious and disoriented upon docking. She was quickly taken into custody by port officials for questioning and initial investigation. He emphasized that he had minimal interaction with her beyond ensuring her physical safety — describing her only as “a lost, anxious woman.”
International Search Underway
Greek and Italian maritime authorities have launched a joint search effort. According to Spanish media and family statements, the couple had departed Syracuse in Sicily on August 17 en route to Pylos aboard their own sailboat. Reports indicate the wife remained adrift aboard the vessel for approximately three days before rescue — surviving without food or water, exposed to open-sea conditions.
The missing businessman’s identity has not been officially disclosed by Greek authorities, but Spanish outlets have named him as a well-known entrepreneur from Madrid. His current whereabouts remain unknown, and the search continues.