Off the coast of Spain, a routine day on the water turned into a dramatic rescue on June 24, 2023, when yacht crews spotted a man adrift in the open ocean, clinging to a doughnut-shaped pool float. That day, a 29-year-old was saved after a crew member saw a single hand waving from the waves, a signal that likely made the difference between life and death.
The rescue occurred when the 189-foot motor yacht M/Y W encountered what initially looked like floating debris several miles offshore. As the crew drew closer, they realized the object wasn’t debris at all, but, incredibly enough, a stranded man barely afloat on a brightly colored, doughnut-shaped pool toy, and he was alive.
The yacht captain acted quickly
Captain Marc Wellnitz, who was commanding the yacht at the time, immediately ordered a rescue operation. Crew members threw lines into the water and maneuvered carefully to avoid swamping the small float. Then, as they approached, they saw movement; the man raised one arm and waved for help.
The man, whose name has not been released, had reportedly been drifting for five days before being spotted. He was conscious but exhausted and dehydrated when brought aboard. Once on deck, the yacht’s crew provided water, medical attention, and shade while awaiting the arrival of local maritime authorities.
A wetsuit and money in a waterproof pouch
Despite being stranded, reports say the man was wearing a wetsuit. Wellnitz said he suspected the man may have jumped from a passing ship en route to Spain and then tried to swim to shore, rather than having become stranded by accident on the inflatable. According to DockWalk, which first reported the story, Wellnitz said, “Anybody wearing a wetsuit” planned to be in the water.
Adding to the mystery, the man had identification, money, and a phone in a waterproof pouch under his wetsuit when rescuers reached him. Otherwise, it’s never been reported how he ended up in the water for so long on such an adequate flotation device. Wellnitz’s crew described him as “extremely weak and not quite coherent.” Reports say he was immediately treated for sunburn, open wounds caused by saltwater exposure, and suspected early-onset hypothermia.
Spanish authorities took charge, and the man was promptly airlifted to a local hospital for further medical and official evaluation. Perhaps needless to say, unlike life rafts or safety rings, pool floats are not designed for the ocean; they are easily swept away by wind or current, and offer little protection against sun exposure or fatigue. Wellnitz said, “The fact we spotted him was a miracle of its own.”
