Sailor survives two days without food or water on island in IJsselmeer
A man was rescued on Sunday after spending two days on an uninhabited island in the IJsselmeer. He had gone sailing on Friday when his boat drifted onto the rocks near De Kreupel, an island east of Medemblik in Noord-Holland, and partially sank. He was eventually rescued by a lifeboat crew.
The man’s phone had died after the anchor came loose, causing the vessel to be blown onto the rocks. He had no other means of contacting the outside world. It was very quiet on the water due to the bad weather, which led to the man having to survive for two days without food or water before being found. He had made a tent out of the sails of his boat.
He later expressed his relief at being found by rescuers from the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM) in Andijk, saying he had feared he might die on the island.
“We came across a partially submerged sailboat resting on the island’s rocks,” a KNRM spokesperson told NOS. “Next to it stood the man beside a small, self-built tent.” The man was weak but otherwise in reasonable condition. He was given coffee, a shower, and dry clothes by the KNRM.
The KNRM stressed the importance of always carrying a radio, mobile phone, or emergency flares on board. The man’s yacht was beyond repair and was recovered by Rijkswaterstaat.
