Carlos Macedo
How Carlos Macedo found himself on that island, he couldn't tell. One minute, he was fishing in the ocean, and the next, fighting for his life in the raging Rio de Janeiro waves.
The currents carried him onto a deserted island. He knew he wouldn't survive for more than a week if someone didn't come to get him.
Making Ends Meet
Carlos was your average fisherman in a small town outside Rio de Janeiro. He'd made a name for himself as the bank teller who'd switched careers following the global pandemic that rendered many people jobless.
For Carlos, providing for his wife and two-year-old son was his priority. Seeing that he was unemployed, he did the only thing he could: take a canoe with fishing equipment into the ocean.
Right In The Middle
Carlos wasn't the best fisherman in his neighborhood. He wasn't the worst either. Growing up in a fishing community, he knew most of the ins and outs of fishing.
He'd done it several times before and saw no danger in taking it up as a part-time job until he found something more his speed. He had no idea what he was signing up for.
Going Fishing
He dusted his old canoe and borrowed some fishing gear from a friend. He woke up in the wee hours of the morning, paddling into the ocean.
The sun wasn't up yet, the perfect time for him to begin his fishing activities. But although the process would start immaculately, the end would be a disaster Carlos would never forget.
Dangerous Waters
Sitting in his boat with his equipment ready, Carlos started to fish. The sea was quiet around him, save for the occasional splash of waves.
But out of nowhere, the calm ocean surface turned rowdy, threatening to flip his canoe over. Holding on to the sides and praying the turbulence would die off, he tried his best to remain calm. That's when it happened.
The Hungry Ocean
Carlos's canoe flipped over, dipping him into the hungry water. A great swimmer, he did everything he could to fight the strong ocean eddies and swim back to the surface.
But the water currents proved to be too strong. They carried him away from his canoe, whirling him through the darkness. When he surfaced, there was nothing before him but the endless ocean.
Save Your Energy
The sun slowly came up as Carlos searched for his canoe. The ocean currents were still moving him, and given his fatigue, he didn't fight against them.
He was losing hope when out on the horizon, the yellow sands of a lone island came into view. Knowing this was his one-way ticket to survival, Carlos swam toward it.
The Island
The island was a literal lifeline to a sinking man, and Carlos took it without a wasted thought. He crawled up the cold, wet sand and lay on his back, releasing a heavy breath as his eyes closed.
He was on land where the last thing to worry about was sinking. If he'd managed to beat the ocean's hungry waves, nothing could stop him now.
What Can You See?
Carlos woke up a few minutes after lying down. The island was surrounded by endless blue water with no boats, ships, or land masses. How far had the water currents carried him?
The first thing he did was search for any form of shelter that would protect him from the elements. Without drinking water and a way to contact his family, he knew he wouldn't make it past the third day without somewhere to lay his head.
Finding The Hut
Carlos's search landed him on an abandoned compound with a single rundown hut. A sigh of relief beat out of his chest as he hurried into the building to see if anything valuable lay inside.
But his expectations were met with nothing but pure disappointment. The hut was empty. Still, Carlos thanked the heavens he'd found something to shelter him from the day's heat and the night's cold. He didn't know that these would be the least of his problems.
Enjoy Your Stay
Carlos began his stay on the island, walking across the beach for hours to see if he could spot a boat out in the ocean.
The first day came to a close, with Carlos eating wild lemons and coals from a fire he'd made inside his hut. As the days began counting, his hope of seeing his family again dwindled. He didn't know how long he could hold on.
Five Days
By the fifth day, Carlos was dehydrated and tired. He could barely stay on his feet for more than an hour. His worry over his family had also clouded his mind, and more than once, he'd contemplated jumping back into the ocean to see if he could find his canoe.
But the truth was that the only thing he could do was wait. He'd tied his shirt on a tree, hoping someone in the ocean would see it. His prayer would be answered.
Is It Real?
Carlos thought he hallucinated when he saw the boat form on the blue horizon. He'd already had several other hallucinations due to poor sleep, fatigue, and dehydration, and he thought this was the same.
But the tiny boat began taking shape as it got closer to the island. Carlos fell to his knees as tears blurred his sight. Everything happening before him was real.
Back In The Water
The boat's bottom scrapped against the yellow sand, and a burly man with a fishing hat jumped out. He hurried over to Carlos, helping him up.
After ascertaining that no one else was on the island, he took Carlos on board and called the coast guard. As the boat's engine roared to life and the vessel carried Carlos back into the open ocean, he knew he was finally safe.
At The Hospital
The man took Carlos to the nearest port, where EMTs airlifted him to a hospital. His family and friends came to visit him as soon as possible. They'd been looking for him for over five days and feared the worst had happened. But seeing him safe and sound made them relax. When asked what kept him going throughout his ordeal, Carlos said, "The hope to see my beautiful family again."
Disclaimer: To protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.