Romualdo Macedo Rodríguez, 44, had a freezer as his only chance of survival when his boat began to sink (Image: CEN)

A fisherman miraculously survived after floating in the sea for 11 days without food or water in his freezer.

Romualdo Macedo Rodríguez, 44, was traveling in a 23-foot wooden boat from Oiapoque, Amapá state in northern Brazil, in late July.

His goal was to reach Ile la Mer, an island off the coast of French Guiana, and spend a few days fishing.

However, disaster struck and their boat filled with water and sank.

Romualdo can’t swim, so he panics in the ship’s freezer.

He said he had no food or water and had lost more than 10 pounds during the ordeal.

“What bothered me the most was thirst,” Romualdo told local media.

I thought I had been attacked by a shark because there are many curious fish in the open sea.

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Romualdo Rodríguez Macedo swimming in cooler waters off the coast of Suriname, Thursday, August 11, 2022. He was rescued 11 days later. (center)

He swam in the ocean for 11 days (Image: CEN)

Fishermen rescue a man off the coast of Suriname on Thursday, August 11, 2022. He was at sea for eleven days. (center)

Several rescuers eventually found him and took him to safety (Image: CEN)

He was finally found 11 days later by the crew of another ship that had taken him out of the waters of Suriname, on the border with French Guiana.

Romualdo said it was the “most important day” of his life and that he had been “born again.”

“There was noise and there was a boat on top of the freezer,” he added. “They thought there was no one else but them.

They then slowly approached me and my vision became blurry. I raised my hand and asked for help. ”

It is believed that he was rescued some 280 miles from where the boat sank.

Video footage taken on August 11 shows the incredible moment of Romualdo’s rescue.

He was dehydrated and disoriented, he suffered from sunstroke and his clothes were torn.

Fishermen rescue a man off the coast of Suriname on Thursday, August 11, 2022. He was at sea for eleven days. (center)

Romualdo was dehydrated, disoriented, sunburned and with torn clothes (Image: CEN)

Image of Romualdo Rodríguez Macedo, date unknown. He was found floating in the sea in a cooler and was rescued 11 days later. (center)

Speaking to local media from his home, he called his survival a “miracle” (Image: CEN)

Rescuers gave Romualdo water and porridge after he had not eaten in days.

He told local media: Amazing. ‘

Police officer Luis Carlos Porto said: “He was very thin and gaunt, but in a very good mood.

“The sun-related scars on my body are already pretty good.

“He said he had vision problems due to too much heat, salt and light, but he was very calm and healthy.”

Back on shore, Romualdo received first aid but was arrested by police in Suriname because he did not have proper documentation.

According to reports, he was detained for 16 days and eventually returned home to Belem, Pará State, Brazil.

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