Fisherman rescued in Pacific after eight days adrift

On June 11, 42-year-old fisherman Junior Apiuta set out for a fishing trip in the Pacific Ocean after a local volleyball match. His small boat experienced engine failure while he was following birds to locate fish, and the motor subsequently stopped working completely. Without repair tools and facing worsening weather, Apiuta chose to remain on the vessel as he drifted away from land. Over the next eight days, he endured strong winds, heavy rain, and low temperatures while surviving with minimal supplies. During this period, he was twice thrown into the water by waves but managed to climb back onto the boat. On June 18, a Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft spotted his vessel and alerted local fishing boats in the area. A passing fishing boat subsequently retrieved him, bringing his survival ordeal to an end.