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Family reveals truth behind missing woman found floating at sea

The family of a woman who was found floating in the ocean after being missing for two years has spoken about her struggle with mental health.

In video that has since gone viral, 46-year-old Angelica Gaitan was found floating unresponsive more than two kilometres off the coast of Puerto Colombia.

Local media tracked down the woman’s family who said they hadn’t had contact with her for two years.

A woman is seen floating in the water, fully clothes with a floatation device around her as she is rescued.
Angelica Gaitan was found unresponsive floating in the middle of the ocean by fishermen. Source: Australscope/Rolando Visbal Lux/Newsflash

Daughter Paula Castiblanco told Colombian outlet El Heraldo that her mother suffers from crippling panic attacks and paranoia.

“Every time she saw a high-end car she would scream and say that they were coming for her, that we shouldn’t let her get on those cars. She covered her head and said that a man would come for her,” Ms Castiblanco explained to El Herald.

She also said she believed her mother may have experienced trauma during the time she was missing which may explain why she was found adrift at sea.

“We think that during that period of time that she was missing, perhaps something could have happened to her that caused her psychological trauma,” Ms Castiblanco told El Heraldo.

After floating at sea for about eight hours, Ms Gaitan was taken to hospital where the Mirror reported she claimed to have tried to end her life after escaping domestic violence.

“I did not want to continue with my life,” Ms Gaitan reportedly said.

Another daughter, Alejandra Castiblanco, denied her mother’s claims to local media at the time.

Angelica Gaitan being attended at the beach after being rescued from the water.
The woman was identified as 46-year-old Angelica Gaitan who had been missing for two years. Source: Australscope/Rolando Visbal Lux/Newsflash

El Heraldo reported the family were notified Ms Gaitan had made an appointment with a psychologist in March through their health insurance and they later found she had been staying in a homeless shelter.

Ms Gaitan has been reunited with her family as police continue to investigate the circumstances around her disappearance and rescue.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.

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