25 February 2023 , 11:42
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Heinz is searching for a man who survived at sea on ketchup for 24 days - to buy him a new boat.
Elvis Francois, 47, went missing in December 2022 after his boat in St Maarten, Caribbean started to drift at sea when weather conditions started to change.
The sailor scribbled "help" on the back of his boat to try and attract a plane - while he constantly empty water from the boat to prevent himself from sinking.
He was eventually rescued by the Columbian Navy after he was found 120 nautical miles northwest of La Guajira peninsula in Colombia.
In a video released by the navy, the sailor revealed he relied on garlic powder, Maggi cubes and a bottle of ketchup in order to survive.
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The American company wants to find Elvis and buy him a new boat (Instagram/heinz)
Heinz posted the request on Instagram (Instagram/heinz)He said at the time: “I tried to [go] back to port, but I lost track because it took me a while to mount the sail and fix the sail,” he said following his rescue. “...I call my friends, my coworkers.
"They tried to contact me, but they lost service. There was nothing else I could do than sit down and wait.”
But now ketchup giant Heinz, who are based in Pittsburgh, US, are pleading for the public to help them find Elvis so they can replace his boat.
Elvis had to carve the word "help" on the hull of his sail boat (ArmadaColombia/Twitter)In an Instagram post on February 14 they wrote: "Help us #findtheketchupboatguy.
"To whoever finds this message. We need your help tracking down an amazing man with an amazing story.
"You may remember Elvis Francois as the brave sailor who survived on nothing but ketchup and spices while adrift at sea for 24 days.
"Well, Heinz wants to celebrate his safe return home and help him buy a new boat… but we can’t seem to find him.”
“So, we’re setting this message adrift into the sea of the internet because if anyone can help us find him, it’s you. If you or anyone you know can help us get in contact with Elvis Francois, please drop us a DM.
"Don’t forget to share this post with all your friends so we can #FindTheKetchupBoatGuy.”
A spokesperson for Heinz told NBC the company want to give Elvis “a new boat equipped with full navigational technology to avoid another disaster in the future.”
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Since the Instagram post the company has narrowed down the potential whereabouts of Elvis to the island of Dominica.
It said on February 18: "“Square miles: 290, Villages: 53, Towns: 18, Elvis Francois?
"Elvis Francois could be anywhere in Dominica. So, we’re turning to you, the internet, to help us track him down so we can celebrate his safe return and help him buy a new boat.”
In an update last week, Heinz revealed they have reached out to “several Elvis impersonators,” the “government of Dominica,” and “the Colombian Navy” since the post.
However, his whereabouts is still unclear.