Real 'Life of Pi' castaway 'ate dog food even when he was on land'

A real life castaway, who had to survive on raw fish and birds and turtle blood when he was left adrift for 13 months in Pacific, was already eating such things and even dog food when he was on land, it has been revealed.

Jose Salvador Alvarenga's fellow fishermen claim that he was a good man who wasn't picky about his food and ate everything, News.com.au reported.

Bellardino Rodriguez, boss of 37-year-old native of El Salvador, said that Alvarenga grabbed sardines and ate them raw because he believed that one should try everything.

Another fisherman Erick Manuel Velazquez said that Alvarenga ate dog food because he thought that one day he would get lost at sea.

Alvarenga was found in emaciated condition on the tiny Ebon Atoll in the Marshall Islands, after having drifted more than 8,000 miles.