Pacific Castaway's Homecoming Delayed

SHOTLIST: MAJURO, MARSHALL ISLANDS, FEB 6, 2014, SOURCE: MARSHALL ISLANDS JOURNAL - NO RESALE FOR NON-EDITORIAL PURPOSES - Jose Salvador Alvarenga at press conference - Jose Salvador Alvarenga leaving presser SOUNDBITE 1 - Jose Salvador Alvarenga, (man) Salvadoran fisherman (in Spanish, 27 sec) "I want to thank the government of the Marshall Islands for all it has done and the friends who have helped me while here like Mr Damien from immigration." SOUNDBITE 2 - Christian Clay Mendoza, (man) Deputy chief of mission at the Mexican embassy in Manila (in English, 13 sec) "There are two things to consider; his health, we need the doctors to tell us if he is fit to travel, it is a long trip back home for him. And then we need to get a bunch of documents ready." /// -------------------------------------------------- AFP TEXT STORY: Pacific castaway's homecoming delayed / Majuro (Marshall Islands) - 06 February 2014 15:37 - AFP (Giff Johnson) Pacific castaway Jose Salvador Alvarenga's departure from the Marshall Islands was delayed Thursday for health reasons as the family of the now-dead companion with whom he set sail sought answers. The 37-year-old from El Salvador, who claims he was adrift for 13 months in a small fishing boat, had been expected to leave the Pacific outpost on Friday but medical staff advised against it, with Alvarenga still suffering dehydration. Christian Clay Mendoza, the deputy chief of mission at the Mexican embassy in Manila who is acting on his behalf, said in Majuro that he needed more time to recover. "We must consider his health, that he is fit to travel and get the doctor's recommendation. We're hoping in the next three or four days," he said. "The doctors say he's too dehydrated and it is not a good idea to travel right now." Alvarenga has been treated at Majuro Hospital since his arrival from Ebon Atoll, where he washed ashore a week ago clad only in ragged underpants. He arrived at a press conference Thursday clutching onto men on both sides and was helped up a flight of stairs and along a walkway to the venue. "I want to thank the government of the Marshall Islands for all it has done and the friends who have helped me while here," he said in brief comments before being whisked away for more medical tests without taking questions. Mendoza said the stockily-built Alvarenga was "not willing to talk too much right now". "He's been through a lot and is still recovering but in good health," said the diplomat...