The Miracle at Sea: Tamil Nadu Fisherman Survives 26 Hours Adrift in the Indian Ocean

In the early hours of September 20, 2025, 35-year-old fisherman Sivamurugan found himself floating helplessly amid towering waves, 16 nautical miles (approximately 29 kilometres) off the coast of Kanyakumari. Hours earlier, while fishing with his brother and friends, he had slipped from their motorboat and fallen into the sea — beginning a 26-hour ordeal of survival against all odds.

“I could see boats searching for me about a nautical mile away,” Sivamurugan told the BBC, recalling the harrowing experience. “My throat was swollen from swallowing seawater, and I couldn’t shout for help. It was a new moon night — pitch dark. They couldn’t see me, and after a while, the boats returned to shore. I was left there, alone, floating.”

A native of Chettikulam, a coastal village near Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district, Sivamurugan had gone fishing from the Chinnamuttom harbour in Kanyakumari with his brothers and other fishermen. When he slipped into the turbulent waters, his companions searched desperately but failed to locate him. Rescue efforts by the police also yielded no results, and by dawn, most feared he was lost to the sea.

However, 26 hours later, in what many now describe as a miracle, Sivamurugan was rescued alive by a group of fishermen from Kootankuli village. “We were sure he wouldn’t survive,” said Pauline, a Kanyakumari-based writer and fisherman’s rights activist. “Once someone drifts away in the southern sea, survival is nearly impossible. The waves are fierce, the currents unpredictable.”

The Fall Into Darkness

Recounting the incident, Sivamurugan said, “We usually leave Chettikulam around 2 a.m. and reach Chinnamuttom by afternoon. On September 20, we cast our nets and began returning by 6 p.m. Around 8 p.m., I went to one side of the boat to relieve myself. The GPS showed we were 15 nautical miles off the coast when a massive wave struck the boat. It lurched suddenly, and I lost my balance and fell into the water.”

“I shouted and tried to swim back, but the sound of the boat’s engine drowned my cries. When my brother realized I was missing, they turned back using GPS to trace my location — but by then, the waves had carried me far away,” he explained. “I could see their searchlights in the distance, but the sea was too vast, and I was too small to be seen.”

A Night in the Wild Sea

Through that night, Sivamurugan fought the unrelenting waves. “Saltwater burned my eyes and throat, the skin on my face began to peel, and my body was covered with painful sores. I was terrified. I thought of my wife and my five-year-old son. I told myself I had to survive for them,” he said.

To keep afloat, he removed his T-shirt to reduce drag, but soon felt stings across his skin. “Something was biting me all over. It felt like jellyfish. They stuck to my body, and if I stayed still, they burned through my skin. I kept waving my hands and legs to stay afloat,” he recalled.

As dawn broke on September 21, the first light of the sun reignited his hope. “When I saw the sunrise, I thought — maybe I can make it. Maybe I can reach the shore.” But his struggle was far from over. The southern Indian Ocean, known for its powerful undercurrents, pushed him in every direction. “No matter how much I swam, I seemed to stay in the same place. My legs went numb. As night fell again, I lost my strength and courage. I finally understood why people say — no one survives the southern sea,” he said softly.

At one point, he even contemplated giving up. “I was ready to drown. I had drunk so much seawater, I could barely breathe. Just as I was about to lose hope, I saw a faint light far away,” he said.

Rescued Against All Odds

That distant light turned out to be a boat’s headlamp. Mustering the last of his strength, Sivamurugan waved his arms until the crew noticed him. “They turned the boat toward me. I swam closer. For about 30 minutes after being pulled aboard, I couldn’t understand where I was or what was happening. They gave me tea and biscuits before I could even open my eyes properly,” he said.

The rescuers were led by Arulappan, a fisherman from Kootankuli village, who had ventured out to collect fishing nets when he spotted the survivor. Sivamurugan was taken to shore and given medical treatment. He suffered dehydration, salt burns, and exhaustion but miraculously survived.

Life After the Ordeal

“I haven’t stepped into the sea since that night,” Sivamurugan said, now resting at home with his wife and young son, Shivadesin. “My family and my child have begged me never to go fishing again. I still wake up at night remembering the waves, the darkness, and those jellyfish.”

His brother, unable to bear the trauma, has since left India to work abroad. “Sometimes I just stand by the shore and look at the ocean. I can still see that night — the glowing worms circling my head, the endless waves, the darkness. I don’t think I’ll ever set foot in the sea again,” he said.

Expert Advice: How to Survive If You Fall Overboard

The UK’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution advises that if you fall into the sea, it’s crucial to stay afloat and control your breathing. “Lie back to keep your face above water, spread your arms and legs to improve stability, and move gently if needed,” the organisation says.

Helplines for Mental Health Support in India

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, help is available:

• Kiran Helpline (Government of India): 1800-233-3330

• Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Helpline (13 languages): 1800-599-0019

• NIMHANS Helpline (Bengaluru): 080-2699-5000

Sivamurugan’s story stands as a rare testament to human endurance — a fisherman who defied the deadliest waters of the Indian Ocean and lived to tell his tale.