NEW : There are conflicting reports as to when the castaway and his companion disappeared . Jose Salvador Alvarenga turned up in the Marshall Islands last week in a small boat . He claims to have been adrift for about 13 months after setting off from Mexico . The U.S. Coast Guard says he was found on Monday, but it is unclear if that means he's still alive or dead.
NEW : There are conflicting reports as to when the castaway and his companion disappeared . Jose Salvador Alvarenga turned up in the Marshall Islands last week in a small boat . He claims to have been adrift for about 13 months after setting off from Mexico . Alvarenga says he lived off fish , birds , turtles , rainwater and urine while adrift .