Yuriesky Romero Hernández, born in Pinar del Río on November 25, 1990, endured over a month adrift at sea on a makeshift raft, surviving on raw fish and his own urine, before finally reaching the shores of Tamaulipas, Mexico, just south of Texas. Tragically, three of the six companions who embarked on this perilous journey with him did not survive. Two drowned, and a third succumbed to starvation.
Upon reaching Mexico, local authorities swiftly granted residency to the shipwreck survivors. Within a week, they crossed into the United States, hailed as heroes for their incredible 34-day ordeal at the mercy of the ocean, devoid of food or water, and ignored by passing vessels.
Now residing in Kentucky, Yuriesky implores other Cubans contemplating such a dangerous escape, especially those leaving behind children, to reconsider. The risks of death or deportation far outweigh the slim chances of success.
The Ill-Fated Journey
The harrowing adventure began at 10:30 a.m. on April 5, 2024. This was Yuriesky's second attempt at an illegal departure, his first having failed. As he waited in a ramshackle wooden house, he spotted state security agents through the gaps in the walls, alerted to their planned escape.
According to plan, Yuriesky and six other men boarded a sail-powered vessel, setting off from the southern coast of Pinar del Río, near La Coloma. They sought assistance from local fishermen and signaled for help from a passing empty boat bound for the U.S., hoping for a tow due to the calm sea and slow journey ahead. They carried provisions for just four or five days.
An Unforgiving Sea
Intending to reach Mexico, they were instead swept off course by Gulf currents. Their seven cellphone GPS devices each showed different locations, and they lost a rudder at night, forcing them to wait until daylight to install a replacement. Their plight was ignored by passing cruise ships and cargo vessels, all of which turned a blind eye to their distress.
Over two weeks into their ordeal, they spotted a fishing buoy and two men dived in, hoping to trigger a rescue. A drone appeared to investigate, but no help arrived. The powerful currents prevented the raft from reaching the buoy, and the men, too weak to swim back, drowned in five-meter waves.
Desperation and Loss
Now four, the survivors subsisted on raw fish when they could catch it and shielded themselves from the sun by clinging to the raft in the water. They drank their own urine, pinching their noses against the taste as their potable water ran out.
One man refused to eat raw fish or drink urine, choosing instead to consume seawater and a tube of toothpaste. His condition deteriorated, and he died just days before they reached land. Fearing rapid decomposition in the sun, they reluctantly consigned his body to the sea, watching as it floated away.
Yuriesky recalls, in an interview with CiberCuba, the emotional toll of realizing how close he came to bringing his son on the journey, a thought that brought him to tears. The child would not have survived the ordeal.
Salvation and a New Beginning
In their final days of despair, one survivor spotted land. The presence of birds during the day, which vanished at night, hinted at their proximity to the shore. They landed on a small cay and were rescued by fishermen, drawing significant media attention in Mexico. Welcomed by authorities, they crossed into the United States a week later.
Settled in Kentucky, Yuriesky acknowledges his second chance at life and urges others to abandon similar plans. The journey's deadly risks far outweigh the hope of reaching a new life. Not everyone is as fortunate; not everyone survives.