His family in El Salvador thought he was dead . Castaway is identified as Jose Salvador Alvarenga , 37 . How to survive being stranded at sea . He had been living on the island of San Miguel since March 2012 and worked for an American company that provided services to the U.S. Navy. Companion died four weeks after pair left Mexico , Alvarenga says .
His family in El Salvador thought he was dead . Castaway is identified as Jose Salvador Alvarenga , 37 . He had been living on the island of San Miguel since March 2012 and worked for an American company that provided services to the U.S. Navy. Companion died four weeks after pair left Mexico , Alvarenga says .