https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ind...-hut/ar-AAAyJ0X

Made it 49 days adrift...story mentions that he drank sea water, straining it through clothing to lessen the percentage of salt..???that's a new one on me. Comments, please.

I read the same story at: Indonesian teenager survives 49 days adrift at sea in fishing hut
... and I had the same reaction to drinking seawater. A cotton shirt does not filter out ocean salts; at best it would strain out small contaminants. I’m wondering if there has been some sort of tolerance to the salt that has developed in some populations that literally live on the ocean. Don’t know.

I think further reports will clarify the issues. It is physically impossible to survive for any length of time on sea water. He may have obtained much moisture from the fish he consumed.

I suspect you are right Montanero.

Throw raw fish onto shirt, twist and squeeze shirt to press out liquid, drink. Voila, with the view through media spectacles, water filtered through clothes from the sea.

I think it tastes terrible but considering the alternative?

Indeed, the consumption of seawater can not prolong life.

Presumably the victim had a stock of drinking water, as it was intended to go a week or so with out re-supply, he might have had extra water to hand in case of emergency.
And as above, some fishes contain fresh water.

Possibly also rainwater capture as the floating hut had a roof.