Mummified captain found in 'ghost ship' he sailed in for seven years after death

A MUMMIFIED captain was found in a mystery boat drifting 40 miles from the shore...still sat in the seat where he is believed to have died.

By Jon Austin

PUBLISHED: 00:00, Tue, Mar 1, 2016 | UPDATED: 02:01, Tue, Mar 1, 2016

The man, who appears to have been trying to make a desperate mayday call, has been identified as German adventurer manfred Fritz Bajorat.
He was found by two fishermen at the weekend in the seas off Surigao del Sur province, about 50 miles off Philippines.
The grey corpse, which was preserved by dry ocean winds, hot temperatures and the salty air, was still sat at a desk near radio equipment on the 40ft yacht called Sayo, which was partially submerged.
It is not year clear when he died, but no one has reported seeing him since 2009.
Local officials remain puzzled by the death and have yet to completely rule out foul play as some of his personal items could have been "damaged by force".

EPA•POLICE

The explorer before he died (left) and how he was found

BaroboPolice

Mayday: Manfred Bajorat is believed to have been trying to radio for help

Two fishermen spotted the drifting "ghost ship" and climbed on board before finding the body and photo albums, clothes and tins of food strewn all over.
Paperwork on board identified him, but the cause of death is unknown.
The mast of the boat was broken, but it is not clear if this happened before or after his death.
One theory is he could have suffered a heart attack.
A year before what appears to have been his last voyage, in 2008, he broke up with his wife who used to venture with him.
However, she has since died of cancer so can shed no more light on his movements.

Barobo police

The captain was found mummified after seven years

EPA

The yacht being recovered from the sea