[update 5/03/2016]: As per a new update on Manfred Fritz Bajorat’s story, it is not clear how long Bajorat had been missing, but he was reportedly last seen in 2009. Also, autopsy revealed ‘he had only been dead for a week’ since his body was found. He died of  Heart Attack(acute myocardial infarction). Forensics experts also explained, a combination of tropical heat, dry wind, and salty sea air can quickly preserve or mummify a corpse.
On 2nd March’16, the mummified body of a 59-year-old German sailor named Manfred Fritz Bajorat, who reportedly disappeared along with his yacht in 2009, was found by some fishermen while his yacht was drifting off the coast of Surigao del Sura in southern Philippines. His boat that has now been commonly named as “Ghost yacht” was reportedly last seen in 2009.
The body that was discovered had been preserved like a Mummy
Strangely and quite unexpectedly, his body was found like a well-preserved mummy that resembled the ancient Egyptian tradition of preserving bodies after death. The extraordinary and impeccable condition in which his body was preserved has baffled researchers since the rest of the yacht was in a dilapidated condition. Bajorat’s mummified corpse was found slumped on his table next to the radio telephone.
It is believed that ocean winds, hot temperatures and the salty sea air were present in perfect measurements that preserved his body like a mummy. Also, since his body was present inside the cabin, it was protected from scavenging birds.
Possible explanation of his death
The body was sent to autopsy in Butuan City but the position in which it was found and due to the absence of any other person on the yacht or any weapon, it was already widely speculated that he may have suffered a cardiac arrest in the position he was found and was trying to make an emergency call when the lights dimmed out on him.
It has been known that his daughter-Nina-who herself is a sea captain would be flying to Philippines in order to recognize her father and collect his body.
Inside the cabin, a tribute letter was found that was written by Bajorat to his ex-wife, Claudia, and it read-
“Thirty years we’ve been together on the same path. Then the power of the demons was stronger than the will to live. You’re gone. May your soul find its peace. Your Manfred”
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Besides the letter, even though the cabin was pretty much under water, photo albums were discovered apparently showing his wife, family and friends, and clothes and tins of food were strewn all around.
Mr. Bajorat, born in Velbert, 14 miles from the state capital of Dusseldorf, had an extremely strong fascination with sea and sailing. He married his wife, Claudia, in 1980 and his daughter, Nina, was born in 1984. He initially worked as an insurance salesman but later sold his business for around 200,000 euros and bought a yacht he christened Nina after his daughter.
A photograph showing Claudia Bajorat with Nina Bajorat
It was followed by 4 years of preparation because he and his wife wanted to accomplish their dream of sailing across the world and they took off in 2008 across the Atlantic and down to Martinique. Another round-the-world yachtsman, identified only as Dieter, claimed to have met Bajorat in 2009 in Mallorca and identified him as a very experienced sailor.
It was in Martinique that his wife died on May 2 2010 due to cancer and was buried there. Although, it also came to light that the couple split after arriving in Martinique which was attributed to his nomadic lifestyle and obsession with sea.
It has also been advocated that he wrote a poignant farewell letter to his wife on a sailor’s website which indicated how much he loved her and how devastated he was after her death. Manfred is thought to have sailed the Atlantic, the Pacific, around the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, the Agean and, as a younger man, the waters of the Baltic bordering northern Germany.
His 40ft yacht was named the Sayo and the exact reason(s) of his death is still unknown although the autopsy report has signified that no foul-play was involved in his death.
