What began as a solitary journey across one of the world’s most unforgiving oceans nearly turned tragic for Finnish rower Jari Saario until a group of Filipino seafarers turned a desperate situation into a story of survival and gratitude.
In early January 2026, Saario was attempting a solo expedition from Cape Horn, Chile to Cape Town, South Africa when his small vessel flooded and capsized about 3,000 kilometers southwest of South Africa.
Stranded in the vast South Atlantic, he drifted at sea for one and a half days before being spotted and rescued by the bulk carrier Cymona Eagle, manned by Filipino crew members.
The seafarers brought him aboard, cared for him, and sheltered him for seven days as he recovered from the ordeal, an act Saario says he will never forget.
Weeks later, the survivor traveled to Helsinki to personally thank the Philippines through a courtesy call on Philippine Ambassador to Finland Domingo P. Nolasco.
The visit, disclosed in a February 4 news release from the Department of Foreign Affairs, marked the first time many had heard the full story of the dramatic rescue.
During the meeting, Saario shared how the Filipino crew welcomed him in his most vulnerable moment.
He said the seafarers had become like family to him and that he felt welcomed as one of their own.
As a token of appreciation, Saario presented a photograph of himself with the crew, carrying a handwritten message on the back: “My deepest and most profound gratitude to the Filipino[s] for saving my life on 11 January 2026….I remain beyond grateful for the dedication and bravery you demonstrated, and for the precious gift of additional time in life that your actions have granted me.”
The experience clearly left a deep impression. After the visit, Saario also took to Instagram to express his admiration, writing, “Filipinos are the most hospitable and kind-hearted people in the world.”
For the Philippine Embassy in Helsinki, the rescue was more than just an act of maritime duty, it was a reflection of the Filipino spirit at sea.
In its statement, the Embassy saluted the crew for their bayanihan spirit, noting how their actions not only saved a life but also uplifted the image of Filipinos on the global stage.
In a country whose seafarers sail the world’s oceans by the hundreds of thousands, such moments often pass quietly, known only within the tight-knit circles of those at sea.
Saario’s journey — and the life-saving intervention of the Filipino crew who found him — offers a rare glimpse into the humanity that unfolds far from land, where courage and compassion can mean the difference between life and loss.