Inquiry into fishermen's ordeal

Duncan Kennedy
BBC News, Mexico City

The three survivors say they read the Bible aloud during their ordeal

The Mexican government is to launch an inquiry into claims that three fishermen spent nine months adrift in the Pacific Ocean.

The three men are heading home after their apparent ordeal, during which they say they survived by catching fish and drinking rainwater.

They have denied allegations of cannibalism or that they made up their story.

Two other crew members on the boat starved to death, say the survivors.

The three fishermen say they set off from a small Mexican village in October 2005, only to be seen again a few days ago minus two of their crew, adrift in the Pacific Ocean.

The three survivors say it started when their eight-metre boat was caught by strong winds and dragged out to sea.

After losing power, they say they were left at the mercy of the ocean's currents.

The men say they survived by drinking rainwater and eating raw fish, using rods crafted with parts from the vessel's motor.

But two of the crew, including the captain, apparently refused to eat the catch.

The survivors say the two men later starved to death.

Doubts cast

Questioned by reporters, they deny they ate their dead companions and said they merely pushed their bodies overboard.

The men say they wiled away the long hours by singing songs, dancing and playing the guitar.

They also say they read the bible aloud.

But some in the Mexican media have cast doubt on the truth of their stories, suggesting they might be drug smugglers who made up their saga to avoid prosecution.

Some reports say there are no records of their departure.

The men have denied the allegations. But a spokesman for President Vicente Fox said the case merits an investigation.

He said we need to explain the circumstances of how the two fishermen in the boat disappeared.

The men reach Mexico on Friday and whether their story is ship-shape or has plumbed new depths, only the enquiry will tell.

But plenty of scriptwriters will no doubt be hoping this isn't the one that got away.