Spanish Businessman Missing at Sea for Days After Falling From Sailboat; Wife Found Adrift Off Greek Coast

Search teams are looking for a 66-year-old Spanish businessman, Juan José Mutilva Obregón, missing since last Tuesday after he fell overboard from his sailboat while traveling between Sicily and Greece. His wife, Carmen, remained alone on the boat and drifted for three days before finally reaching help. The couple had departed Syracuse, Sicily, on Monday en route to Pylos, Greece. According to their son, Sergio, Mutilva was cleaning a tuna Tuesday morning when he slipped, likely due to fish blood. Sergio said his mother heard him shout to cut the engine, but she froze and the boat continued drifting. After regaining signal on Friday, Carmen contacted an experienced sailing friend, who alerted Spain’s Maritime Rescue Service and then Italian and Greek authorities. The Hellenic Coast Guard located the French-flagged sailboat about 18 nautical miles off Pylos; a rescue unit and other vessels responded. Carmen was found in good health and the sailboat was escorted into Pylos marina.