Tragedy at Sea: Surviving Two Weeks Adrift After Fishing Vessel Sinks

Alec Frydman was a young man pursuing a new path in life when he signed on for his first trip aboard a commercial fishing vessel. Tragically, that first voyage turned into a nightmare. In his powerful first-person account published in The Atlantic (June 2025), Alec recounts a violent storm that sank the fishing vessel, claiming the life of the captain and leaving Alec alone in a life raft for 14 days. He was the sole survivor. His harrowing story of survival has drawn national attention—and ultimately led him to seek legal counsel from maritime attorney and partner Nigel Stacey of Stacey and Jacobsen, PLLC.

Without warning, Frydman found himself alone, dehydrated, and without working emergency equipment. He survived through prayer, mental discipline, grit, and sheer willpower. His experience underscores the hazards encountered by maritime workers and emphasizes the necessity for well maintained, operational safety equipment.

Many survival tales share common themes of endurance, resilience, and the thin line between hope and despair. Alec’s account stands out for its emotional depth and clarity. Drifting without food, water, or contact, he entered what he describes as a “liminal” state, cut off from past and future, afloat in the terrifying now.

Survivors like Alec deserve our admiration, our respect, as well as answers and accountability. Commercial fishing is among the deadliest professions, with a global fatality rate of approximately 24,000 annually and a U.S. rate 23 times higher than average for workers. Primary causes of death include vessel sinkings, overboard falls, and machinery accidents. The industry faces persistent dangers, underscoring the need for continual efforts to safeguard those risking their lives to sustain our global food supplies.