Kai Sato, 39, from California, who went missing in the Pacific Ocean for over a month, was found last week drifting off the coast of Hawaii.
Sato departed Catalina Island, California, on 7/6. Two weeks into his journey, his mast broke, he ran out of fuel, and his phone battery died, leaving him completely helpless and adrift at sea.
Sato shared that he cried for days in despair as waves pushed him further away from shipping routes. "I cried for a whole week. I even considered ending my life," he stated.
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The mast broke two weeks after departure. Photo: Hawaii News Now
He described feeling like "prey waiting to die, continuously pulled south and far off course by ocean currents." However, after five days of reflection, he regained his resolve and began making temporary repairs to his boat using PVC pipes and kayak paddles.
Sato revealed he ate leftover oats, fish, and squid that washed into his boat, and drank condensed seawater collected in a bucket. A video he recorded on board showed the mast broken in half and fierce waves crashing down on the small vessel as it battled the Pacific currents.
A rescue photo taken from the Pasha Hawaii vessel revealed the severe damage to the boat, with its sails submerged just below the water's surface.
The mast was broken and submerged when the container ship discovered Sato. Source: Hawaii News Now
After nearly a month, Sato managed to return to the shipping route from California to Hawaii and was rescued by a passing container ship on 21/7.
The crew had to make two attempts to lower a rope ladder to rescue Sato. After weeks adrift at sea, surviving on whatever he could find, he finally received new clothes and food.
"I broke down, crying with immense joy," Sato recounted.
He is currently staying with a relative in Hawaii but plans to set sail again towards the Philippines on a larger vessel.
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Kai Sato, 39, departed Catalina Island on 7/6 and drifted aimlessly at sea for nearly a month. Photo: NY Post
By Hoang Lan (According to NY Post, Hawaii News Now)
