Story of a Castaway: Ten Days Adrift at Sea
Story of a Castaway
Summary
In 1955, Luis Alejandro Velasco recounted his ordeal to Gabriel García Márquez, then a reporter for The Spectator in Bogotá. Velasco’s story, often misrepresented before, detailed his ten days adrift at sea after the Colombian Navy destroyer Caldas suffered an accident on February 28, 1955. He was eventually found shipwrecked near San Juan de Uraba on March 9. While this book is a novel by Gabriel García Márquez, it’s based on Velasco’s firsthand account, originally published in The Spectator.
The story begins in Mobile, Alabama, where the Caldas was undergoing repairs. After returning to Cartagena, Colombia, eight sailors, including Velasco, fell overboard. Due to excessive cargo, the ship couldn’t maneuver to rescue them. This overload was caused by smuggled goods like refrigerators, cameras, and radios. The Colombian government concealed the smuggling, claiming a storm caused the accident.
Velasco was the only sailor to reach a life raft, witnessing his companions drown nearby. He spent ten days adrift without food or water, eventually washing ashore near Mulatos, Colombia. From there, he was escorted to San Juan de Uraba, received medical attention, and was reunited with his family in Cartagena.
Initially hailed as a national hero and showered with attention, Velasco’s story was later manipulated to hide the truth about the smuggled goods. After the true account was published in The Spectator, García Márquez was forced into exile, and Velasco lost his naval career and fame.
The Ordeal
A sailor falls overboard with seven colleagues. As the sole survivor, he faces ten days adrift without food or water.
Main Characters
Luis Alejandro Velasco
A strong, stout 20-year-old with a remarkable memory, enabling him to recount his experience in vivid detail.
Other Key Individuals
- Luis Rengifo: Velasco’s best friend and one of the seven who perished. Known for his arrogance.
- Mary Address: Velasco’s American girlfriend, whom he met eight months prior in Mobile.
- Crewmates: Other crew members and friends of Velasco, mentioned briefly.
Setting
The story begins in the offices of The Spectator in Bogotá, where García Márquez interviews Velasco. Through flashbacks, the narrative shifts to Mobile, then to the Caldas, and finally to the life raft where Velasco spent ten days adrift in the Caribbean Sea. After reaching land, the setting moves to various Colombian towns, including San Juan de Uraba and Cartagena.
Time Period
The events unfold between 1954 and 1955 during a period of dictatorship in Colombia. The Caldas arrives in Mobile in June 1954, eight months before the accident. Velasco comes ashore on March 9, 1955, ten days after the incident.
Personal Opinion
This book is a captivating read. Its resemblance to magical realism makes the true story even more remarkable. The author skillfully keeps the narrative engaging despite the limited setting of a life raft. I highly recommend this novel; it’s accessible yet thought-provoking.