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.

His decomposing body was found by photographs and a haunting letter to his wife, Claudia, who died from cancer in 2010.

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".