Buscan a un empresario español que cayó de su barco en alta mar

Spanish entrepreneur Juan Jos� Mutilba, 66, fell overboard from his boat in international waters between Sicily and Greece on Tuesday, his family has reported to Spanish authorities. Mutilba, who retired in 2021, was sailing with his wife to the Greek town of Pilos when the accident occurred. On Monday, the couple set sail from Syracuse, Sicily, intending to reach Pilos.

On Tuesday morning, Mutilba caught a fish, slipped, and fell into the sea, his family claims. His wife attempted to call emergency services but lacked coverage, and the boat drifted away from the accident site, gradually losing its way. Three days later, on Friday, Mutilba managed to establish coverage and call a family friend, a navigation expert, who informed Spanish Salvamento Marítimo and Greek Salvamento Marítimo.

Greek authorities managed to detect the boat with the wife on board and tow it back to Pilos, Greece. The search for Mutilba remains active, according to his family, who have also notified Spain's embassy in Rome. The family has requested the Spanish Ministry of Interior's assistance to ensure the Italian authorities do not abandon the search, as they have not received any information from them.

The family hopes to gain more details from the search, as Italian authorities have only provided them with sporadic information via passing boats, indicating that three boats and a helicopter were deployed after the search protocol was activated. On Monday, the family's sister and daughter will travel from Greece to Italy to attempt further pressure on the authorities to maintain the search.

Sergio Mutilba emphasizes the family's desire to avoid suspending the search, particularly for his mother, who has yet to process the tragedy and has returned to Spain for medical reasons.