Two brave sailors from Zadar, Mario Radulić and Marko Birkić, are being hailed for their heroic efforts in rescuing two fishermen who had been lost at sea for up to 30 days. The two fishermen, Etuati Rabaere and his friend, were stranded in a small fishing boat that was too low to be detected by radar after their engine broke down and they were swept 300 miles away from their island of Nonouti.
The crew of the tuna trawler “Marielle”, led by Captain Mario Radulić, made a course correction to rescue the exhausted fishermen. The sailors spotted them from a great distance and quickly sprung into action, giving the men water and food little by little as they nursed them back to health.
The sailors believe that the fishermen were saved by the consistent rain that fell during the last 15 days of their ordeal, which kept them alive. The 21-member crew of the “Marielle” includes one Mexican, seven Filipinos, 11 Micronesians, and two Croats, who are being hailed for their selfless actions in saving the two stranded fishermen. Their heroism is being celebrated as a great achievement.