At this time, although he had been dead for many weeks, the man’s body was still intact, with little sign of decomposition, all thanks to the air, heat and saltiness of the sea – like a perfect natural “mummification” method.
Friday, February 26, 2016, clear blue skies and calm seas, everything was perfect for a fishing plan.
Christopher Rivas, 23, a resident of Barobo – a small town on the east coast of Mindanao Island, Philippines – was on a fishing trip with a few friends. About 64km out to sea, the group of fishermen were surprised by the appearance of a small, dilapidated white yacht called “Sayo”.
“Mummified” man found on boat.
Like a “ghost ship”, its entire hull was shattered beyond repair, the mast was broken and collapsed to the floor, and part of the ship had sunk below the sea surface.
The Rivas group boldly boarded the boat. There, they discovered something much more horrifying than they had imagined: the “mummy” of a naked man sitting on a chair. They immediately reported it to the police.
Through investigation and documents collected in the cabin, the police identified the “mummy” as a German sailor named Manfred Fritz Bajorat. An autopsy revealed that the 59-year-old man died of a heart attack.
He had been drifting at sea for weeks, the salty air and heat of the sea acting as a preservative, slowing the body’s decomposition.
“The cause of death was acute myocardial infarction based on the autopsy by the regional crime laboratory. It is estimated that the man had been dead for at least seven days,” said Philippine National Police spokesman Wilben Mayor.
Explaining why Bajorat’s body remained intact and showed little signs of decomposition, forensic pathology professor Peter Vanezis said: “The air, heat and saltiness of the sea are all very beneficial for mummification.” These natural factors will take effect within 2 to 3 weeks. After that, the fingers and other parts… will dry quickly in a month or two, they will gradually decompose.
The mystery quickly spread across the internet. Most people had the same question: How did Manfred Fritz Bajorat, a German, end up drifting across the Philippine Sea alone? Based on the documents that Bojorat left on the boat, the police finally answered the question.
In a note, Bajorat wrote: “Thirty years we walked the same path. But then you left me. May your soul find peace. My Manfred.”
Not only that, the boat is a treasure trove of family photos that the 59-year-old man keeps like a treasure. From snapshots taken at Notre Dame Cathedral and cafes in Paris to photos of picnics… The photo albums all give people the image of a happy family. The photo of Bajorat holding a baby is captioned: “The first time we were at sea with little Button.”
One of the photos found.
There, Bojarat was seen indescribably happy in the moments with his wife and daughter. The German Embassy in the Philippines, tried to contact Bojarat’s family.
It turned out that the man was an experienced sailor. He had a happy family, but his wife died of cancer in 2010. His daughter, Nina, was a captain on a cargo ship at the time.
According to Nina, 2 years after her mother passed away, Mr. Bajorat had been alone at sea to explore for many years. Perhaps, the loss of his wife and the family being no longer complete had become an inconsolable sadness for Bojorat. He chose to go and chose the ocean as his eternal home.
He began his journey on the Sayo on August 1, 2008, crossing the equator from Singapore to Durban, South Africa. Bajorat then moved to the Spanish island of Mallorca, where he met a friend who was impressed with what Bojorat had accomplished.
“He was a very experienced sailor. From what I know about Bajorat, I believe he would not have died and damaged the ship in the storms. I believe the mast broke after it lost its steady helmsman,” the friend said.
The location of the boat was found.
Another document on Bajorat’s boat reveals that Sayo was granted a passage permit by the maritime police in 2013, in Sao Vicente, Brazil. That’s when he began his solo seafaring adventures in earnest, posting regular updates on his Facebook page and responding to birthday messages.
Some other reports claim that Bajorat has not been directly sighted since 2009.
Perhaps Bojarat was serious about his solo seafaring adventure. He wanted it that way. He did not like the cold climate of his homeland, he preferred to spend the rest of his life searching for more “hospitable” weather. In the end, all he left behind were photos and a message to the woman he loved.