Missing Colombian woman from 2 year found alive floating in the ocean

by Psu Connect
Date: 30-09-20

Colombia: Woman who was missing for two years was found alive floating in the ocean. The Colombian woman was found by fishermen off the coast of Puerto Colombia, on Saturday, September 26.

Angelica Gaitan, a 46-year-old woman, had not been in contact with her family for two years when the fishermen spotted her nearly two miles out to sea, as reported by La Libertad. At first, they thought they had spotted a log in the distance, but then they saw Gaitan raise her arms in the air.

Fisherman Rolando Visbal called out to Gaitan, who was lying in a rubber ring, in Spanish and English, but she could not respond due to the cold, as seen in a video of the incident.

Visbal pulled her aboard and they took her to shore where they helped her sit down. The men gave her water and asked for her name but she was unable to respond.

Gaitan explained that she first went missing when she escaped an abusive relationship in September 2018. She said that she was wandering the streets for six months before seeking help at the Women's Office in Barranquilla.

Due to the abuse she suffered, protection measures were put in place to keep her ex-partner away from her. But on Friday, she was told that as her ex-partner was no longer living in Barranquilla, she could no longer stay at the shelter.

Gaitan said that she had then decided to end her life and headed to the beach. She told local media: "Being on the seashore I found myself alone and in solitude; I decided to jump into the sea and let it take me. I just had to hope this nightmare would soon be over."

But having been rescued, Gaitan, who doesn't remember anything about the hours she spent floating in the ocean, told RCN Radio Barranquilla: "I feel like I was born again, thank God. If I had had an opportunity or help I would not make that decision. Now I am very grateful because God gave me a new opportunity to move forward."

The woman is now being treated at a hospital and she has been put in contact with her family in Bogotá. (Newsweek)