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Frenchman found stranded in Maluku after his boat sinks
The man, identified as Alain Michael Claude, 62, told the West Leihitu Police that his boat sank after being hit by heavy seas.
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Alain Michael Claude, a 62-year-old French yachtsman, speaks to police after being stranded at Lai hamlet in West Leihitu district, Central Maluku. (JP/Belseran Christ)
A Frenchman was found stranded on Thursday evening on a beach in Lai hamlet in West Leihitu district, Central Maluku regency, Maluku, apparently after his boat sank.
The man, identified as Alain Michael Claude, 62, told the West Leihitu Police that his boat sank in waters off the hamlet after being hit by heavy seas. Claude claimed he managed to survive after escaping on a lifeboat.
Claude also told the authorities that he sailed by himself and planned to go to the provincial capital of Ambon, before eventually returning to France.
West Leihitu Police chief First Insp. Johan Anakotta confirmed the incident: “We received a report from Larike village secretary about a foreigner who was stranded on a beach in Lai hamlet.”
The police chief added that Claude set his lifeboat on fire upon landing on the beach.
“I don’t know why he decided to burn his lifeboat. However, the locals managed to rescue him. The Lai village chief immediately reported him to the authorities.”
Johan said the police’s village-level security and public order officers (Bhabinkamtibmas) brought the Frenchman immediately to the community health center in Alang village, located near Larike.
Claude underwent a medical checkup at the COVID-19 post at the district.
“The medical process is still ongoing. He told us he had decided to return to his home country soon,” Johan said. (dpk)
