Mystery surrounds death of Manfred Fritz Bajorat, whose corpse was found slumped at desk ‘like he was sleeping’ in cabin of vessel floating in the Pacific

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The mummified body of a German sailor has been found by fishermen on a yacht floating off the Philippines.

Police were investigating after two men made the discovery on Thursday. Officers determined from identity documents found on the boat that the dead man was Manfred Fritz Bajorat, aged 59.

Inspector Mark Navales, deputy police chief of nearby Barabo town, said that while the cause of Bajorat’s death was unclear there were no signs of foul play.

“It is still a mystery to us,” said Navales.

Bajorat’s body was found seated at a desk in the radio room, slumped over on his right arm “like he was sleeping”, said Navales.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Manfred Fritz Bajorat was found slumped at a desk in a mummified state inside the cabin of a yacht. Photograph: Barobo Police Station

His exact time of death had not yet been determined. The yacht was found in the Philippine Sea about 100km (60 miles) from Barabo.

Bajorat had reportedly been sailing the world on his yacht, Sayo, for the past 20 years.



Reports said he had not been sighted since 2009. But a friend told the media that he had heard from the mariner in 2015 via Facebook.

Authorities were attempting to contact his friends and family in Germany in the hope they would be able to shed light on his movements.

The police investigation found no obvious signs of violence but could not determine the cause of death.

Navales said items inside the yacht were scattered and Bajorat’s wallet was not found but the yacht’s radio, GPS and other valuable items were still there.

Dr Mark Benecke, a forensic criminologist in the German city of Cologne, told the Bild newspaper: “The way he is sitting seems to indicate that death was unexpected, perhaps from a heart attack.”

Reports suggested that dry ocean winds, hot temperatures and the salty air helped preserve his body.