Brazilian Navy Rescues American Sailor 1,610 Kilometers Off Rio de Janeiro Coast - 10/11/2026 - Brazil - Folha de S.Paulo

The Brazilian Navy rescued American sailor Guy deBoer, 70, on Sunday (8), 1,610 kilometers off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. He was competing in the Golden Globe Race 2026, an international round-the-world sailing race, when he fell aboard his sailboat Spirit on November 2, hit his head and lost consciousness.

According to race organizers, deBoer reported feeling better but later experienced balance problems again. On Saturday (7), he called for help via satellite phone, saying he could not use his left arm, stand up or feed himself. During the early hours of the morning, organizers lost contact with him. By morning, he appeared drowsy and at times incoherent, but he lowered the sails and left the boat adrift.

The rescue involved the corvette Barroso, which was returning from a mission in Africa. A helicopter carrying two divers took off from the corvette at around 7h10 a.m., amid strong winds and waves of up to two meters, and by 8h38 a.m. deBoer was aboard. He was severely dehydrated and exhausted, with stable vital signs, and was given intravenous fluids and antibiotics.

"Knowing that the sailor is aboard and receiving the necessary care is our greatest reward," the corvette's commander, Paulo Bacchini Munis, said in a statement.