3 Feb 2014

Castaway now in hospital in Marshall Islands capital

8:11 pm on 3 February 2014

A Spanish-speaking man who says he has been adrift at sea for the last 13 months has been taken to hospital in the Marshall Islands capital.

It's been confirmed the man, initially thought to be Mexican, is from El Salvador.

He floated in on a fibreglass boat to isolated Ebon atoll on Thursday and recounted his story in sign language and pictures to locals.

Our correspondent in Marshall Islands says he's now being checked out after a 22 hour journey on a sea patrol vessel which arrived in Majuro this afternoon.

"He waved as he came out. I think he had a coca cola can in his hand and he seemed happy. There were several Spanish-speaking folks at the dock so he could communicate with the immigration and various other people. He's gone to Majuro Hospital where they're going to do a full medical work up on him to find out how he's doing and then take it from there."

Our correspondent in Majuro Giff Johnson.