Ghost Yacht Found With Mummified Body Of German Adventurer Still At Desk, After Years Sailing The World
The mummified body of a German adventurer has been discovered on board his yacht, seven years after the vessel was last spotted, leading to speculation the boat and sailor may have been drifting around the world for years.
Manfred Fritz Bajorat was found by two fishermen at the weekend, 40 miles from the coast of the Philippines, in the Pacific Ocean, in a cabin strewn with photo albums, clothes and tins of food.
The mast of the yacht was broken and much of the cabin was underwater, but what killed the skipper is unclear, though experts believe his position at the desk suggests his death was unexpected.
Dry ocean winds, hot temperatures and the salty air helped preserve Bajorat's body. The sailor was identified by paperwork found on the vessel.
Police are trying to retrace Bajorat's last voyages and contact people he may have met or spoken to, to pinpoint when he died.
In 2009, in Mallorca, Bajorat met another world sailer called Dieter who told Germany's BILD newspaper: "He was a very experienced sailor. I don't believe he would have sailed into a storm.
"I believe the mast broke after Manfred was already dead."
Police spokeswoman Goldie Lou Siega in the Philippines said: "We have no evidence of a second person aboard and no weapon was found on the yacht."
Dr Mark Benecke, a forensic criminologist in the city of Cologne, told BILD: "The way he is sitting seems to indicate that death was unexpected, perhaps from a heart attack."
The German embassy in Manila is working with local officials to trace Bajorat's family in Germany.
It is believed he has a daughter called Nina who works as the captain of a freight vessel.
No comments:
Post a Comment