Ghost yacht found drifting at sea with mummified corpse of sailor missing for 7 years

The mummified corpse is that of German adventurer Manfred Fritz Bajorat, who had not seen in seven years.

The abandoned yacht has turned up off the coast of the Philippines, having seemingly drifted at sea for years.

His body was discovered near the radio telephone on the 40ft yacht called Sayo, as if he was trying to make one last desperate mayday call.

How long he has been there is not clear although the last sighting of him was made in 2009. 
Another sailor called Dieter told Der Bild: “He was a very experienced sailor. I don”t believe he would have sailed into a storm.

“I believe the mast broke after Manfred was already dead.”
Manfred”s body was taken for an autopsy in Butuan City and the yacht was towed for a police inspection into the port of Barobo.

Police spokeswoman Goldie Lou Siega said; “We have no evidence of a second person aboard and no weapon was found on the yacht.”

Dr Mark Benecke, a forensic criminologist in Cologne said he thought his death was unexpected, perhaps from a heart attack, given how he was sitting.

News24 UK