What seemed like a promising afternoon of fishing in the bay of Matanzas turned, in a matter of minutes, into a desperate race to save lives and recover the fruit of years of effort.
Alexander Fernández and Jorge Luis Ceballos, two experienced fishermen, recounted in a report from Girón how an unexpected strike at the stern of their vessel ultimately sank it, leaving them adrift in the open sea.
The day began around three in the afternoon. The plan was to take advantage of the sunset to catch some fish, and everything indicated it would be a good day.
"We didn't see a single fish in the entire bay until, around six o'clock, the bonitas started to 'guajear' outside. We caught three in a row," Ceballos recounted.
But as he climbed the last one, a sharp and powerful shock shook the boat. "It was at the back, right at the stern. Water started to pour in immediately," he recalled.
Instinct told them to head for shallower waters to avoid losing the boat. Alexander tried to bail out water with a bucket, but the inflow was so fierce that the engine quickly shut down.
Help came from another fisherman who was sailing nearby. Upon seeing their distress signals, he approached and threw a rope to tow them in.
"Everything happened in less than three minutes; we were floating in the middle of the sea," Ceballos recounted.
However, the rope broke during the towing. Still, they managed to reach an area ten fathoms deep, from where they saw the boat finally sink.
Meanwhile, on land, the president of the fishing base, Teresa, acted quickly.
He mobilized several colleagues, and in no time three large boats, along with two underwater fishermen, arrived at the location.
They secured the vessel with thick hemp ropes and took it out to the bay, also recovering all the equipment: oars, nylon, fishing gear, and even the engine.
The inevitable question is what hit them. "At first, I thought it was a shark," Ceballos confessed.
"But that day there was a huge pod of dolphins in the bay, and although I had never seen one behave like that, I think it could have been one of them."
Alexander nodded: "It was very quick and sad to see it (the boat) sink. It's the sacrifice of a lifetime, losing it in an instant."
The fright was so great that, according to Ceballos, his companion thought it would be his last day as a fisherman. However, a week later, with the boat repaired and the engine in good condition, they returned to the sea.
"The first time we looked at each other with fear, but we broke through and moved on. This is our profession," they said. Today, both return to deep areas with more caution, but without stopping what they love to do.
And although they do not have absolute certainty about which sea creature caused the disaster, they agree that that afternoon forever changed their understanding of how fragile a man and his boat can be in open waters.
Frequently asked questions about the mysterious sinking in Matanzas Bay
What caused the sinking of the vessel in Matanzas?
The sinking was caused by an unexpected blow to the stern of the vessel, which led to water rapidly entering. While there is no absolute certainty about which marine species was responsible, it is suspected that it might have been a dolphin or a shark due to the force of the impact.
How was the rescue of the fishermen after the sinking?
The fishermen Alexander Fernández and Jorge Luis Ceballos were rescued by a colleague who was sailing nearby, who threw a rope to tow them. Subsequently, the fishing community mobilized boats and divers to recover the lost vessel and equipment. Despite the swift intervention, the boat ultimately sank to a depth of about ten fathoms before being retrieved.
Is it common for shark attacks to occur in Cuba?
Although over 50 species of sharks inhabit Cuba, attacks on humans are extremely rare. From 1749 to 2023, around 47 incidents have been recorded, of which about 23 were fatal. These events are infrequent compared to other coastal risks.
How did the incident affect the fishermen involved?
The incident changed the way fishermen Alexander Fernández and Jorge Luis Ceballos understand the fragility of their profession on the open sea. Despite the scare, they decided to return to the sea a week later, with the boat repaired and the engine in good condition, demonstrating their love and dedication to fishing.
Filed under:
