SakshiInteracting
The couple tried to communicate with Alvarenga but sadly both the pair and Alvarenga were not acquainted with each other’s language. Whereas the couple was talking in English, Alvarenga did not know any language other than Spanish. So in order to tell them what actually happened to him, he started drawing stick figures. It was very difficult for the couple to comprehend what Alvarenga was trying to convey and when he suddenly began to laugh things got even more confusing. But they laughed too.
Laughing It Off
Alvarenga laughed out loud because now he knew he was out of danger and would be taken home safely. Whereas Emi looked confused, Russel drove towards lagoon on a boat to get help. In a short while, Russel was back with a police officer and a nurse. Thereafter Alvarenga was taken to main island’s town where he elaborated on his story and was provided medical assistance. Doctors found him to be anemic, dehydrated, having liver containing parasites, and low blood pressure. His story spread like wildfire in the world.However, his name was kept from the media.
Media Frenzy
The media went wild when they heard the never heard before the story of Alvarenga. All of them descended the island to get as much information as they can. However, none of them could reach Alvarenga as he was too mentally vulnerable to interact with anyone let alone media. Nor did he intend to talk to any of them hence he put up a note on the main door of hospital requesting media to go away. The first journalist who managed to publish the full story of Alvarenga was Giff Johnson. Lastly, many days after Alvarenga agreed to meet journalist and dispell each and every detail about his voyage. He was donning a baggy brown shirt that hid his torso. This time he had a smile on his face and a coke can in his hand.
Speculations
Alvarenga surprised everyone when he confronted the press as media and the world was expecting a weaker and gaunt man. To some, his theory seemed a lie as his sound appearance was saying exactly opposite of what he had experienced. Nobody could believe that a man as healthy as him had spent more than a year in the sea as a castaway. But there were many witnesses who had seen both the men going out to the voyage therefore that doubt was given no value. Some even speculated that Alvarenga had eaten up his accompanier and that is why he was looking so healthy despite staying in the sea for so long.
Family Reunion
The news soon reached Alvarenga’s family who was extremely happy on hearing that he was alive. The family was living away from Alvarenga for eight years as he had departed from the village in a desire of earning good money as a fisherman. When Alvarenga recovered fully he went back to Garita Palmera, El Salvador to meet his family. It had been many years since they heard from him so they thought he has died even before he got lost. Alvarenga had to do one more thing.
Fulfilling a Promise
Alvarenga made his way back to Mexico to meet Ezequiel Córdoba’s family. Where he met his mother and conveyed his message to her. She treated him warmly but there were some of Córdoba’s relatives who still hold Alvarenga responsible for his death and believe that he killed him so that he could eat him. They also claim that Alvarenga should give them compensation.