Two British holidaymakers have had a miraculous escape after the sailing boat they were travelling on was struck by a cargo ship and sank off the Caribbean coast of Colombia.
Dawn Collision and Dramatic Mayday Call
The near-tragedy unfolded in the early hours of January 3, just before 5am local time. The Colombian Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Cartagena Coast Guard Station received a desperate Mayday distress call at approximately 4.40am. The alert stated that a sailboat, journeying between Panama and Colombia, had been hit and was sinking near Bocachica, close to Cartagena.
A Rapid Response Unit was immediately dispatched. Commander Felipe Portilla of the Cartagena Coastguard Station reported that the stricken travellers were found in emergency life rafts. All 20 people on board were successfully rescued, including the vessel's captain, three crew members, and 16 passengers of various nationalities.
International Passengers and Hollywood-Linked Vessel
The group comprised an international array of thrill-seekers. Alongside the two British nationals, those rescued included six Germans, four French citizens, two Swiss, three Colombians, and one person each from Italy, Belgium and Turkey.
The sunken sailboat was identified as the Alessandra, a New Zealand-built classic topsail schooner. Its Italian skipper, Rudolf Gamberoni, who regularly conducts voyages between Panama and Colombia, expressed his profound gratitude to the rescuers. The boat holds a slice of Hollywood history, having featured in the iconic 1994 film Legends of the Fall, starring Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins. Online, the trip is advertised as a 'pirate' adventure to potential international travellers.
The British tourists, who have not been named, are believed to have been nearing the end of a five-day, four-night tour that began in Panama's San Blas Islands on December 30, having celebrated New Year's Eve aboard. The journey typically costs just over £500, covering accommodation in shared cabins and meals.
Miraculous Survival and Ongoing Investigation
Incredibly, everyone survived without injury. Footage released by the Colombian Navy showed the shaken but relieved group being helped to safety in the darkness, with many breaking down in tears and embracing once they reached dry land. All received medical checks upon arrival.
Captain Gamberoni described the terrifying moment of impact, stating, "A small cargo vessel hit us and made a big hole in our side. It didn’t have any lights. Our boat sank in a question of just a few minutes." He praised the coastguards for their swift action.
Authorities are now working to identify the cargo vessel involved in the collision. Local reports suggest its skipper may have been unaware of the accident, as the ship did not stop following the incident. The Colombian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to protecting human life at sea and securing the nation's maritime borders in the wake of the rescue.
