Emaciated fisherman rescued 'after 46 days drifting at sea' in the Philippines

A missing fisherman who miraculously survived 46 days at sea was rescued by coast guards in the Philippines.

The angler, Robin Dejillo, 49, was stranded in the open sea after his motorboat ran out of fuel while sailing off the coast of Quezon province on August 4.

He claimed to have subsisted on raw fish, coconuts, and rainwater for weeks before his wooden boat was spotted by the crew of the MV Veronica ferry on September 19.

The larger vessel had been passing through the waters of Batanes province, around 400 miles north from where Dejillo had disappeared.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) District Southern Tagalog said Dejillo had been part of a fishing expedition aboard the Leah June vessel that set out from Infanta town in Quezon province. He was said to have boarded a smaller wooden boat to search for better fishing spots before his engine died.

Upon being notified, the PCG dispatched a rescue boat to rush the gaunt fisherman to the Batanes General Hospital.

Photos showed an emaciated Dejillo with a scraggly beard and hair, barely able to stand on his skeletal legs as coast guards helped him onto the PCG boat. Footage shows medics loading him into an ambulance.

He was diagnosed with severe malnutrition and dehydration, and was confined at the hospital for eight days. He stayed another seven days at the local social welfare facility while waiting to be cleared by doctors to fly back home.

In an October 5 statement, the PCG said: 'After the doctor declared Dejillo fit to travel, the Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog immediately prepared aerial transport to take him from Basco, Batanes to the Coast Guard Aviation Command (CGAvCom) in Pasay City, Metro Manila. 'Mr. Dejillo was accompanied by Lieutenant Commander Paul Vincent La Rosa, a medical nurse from the PCG, Hon. Lord Arnel Ruanto, Vice-Mayor of Infanta, and Police Major Ed Richard Pacana, Infanta Police Chief.'

The fisherman was taken back home on a BN Islander 4177 on October 4 once the plane had been cleared to fly over Batanes island, which is notorious for being battered by storms.

Heartwarming photos showed a freshly shaved Dejillo, now in much better shape, wearing a wide grin as he was welcomed home by relieved relatives.

The PCG said: 'When he arrived at his home, Mr. Dejillo was warmly welcomed by his relatives and family, full of joy and gratitude for his safe return after a long absence. We are deeply grateful for the tireless focus and support of Quezon Governor Dr. Helen Tan and Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco to accomplish the success of this mission.'