The Spanish man who dived in to save two strangers has spent years trying to make peace with the one he lost

A decision made in Singapore’s waters set off a mission that’s now carrying one man’s memory 5,000 kilometres across the ocean and up a sacred river.

Who is Nico Ortiz

Spanish entrepreneur Nico Ortiz never planned to become a rescuer. Born in Madrid in 1994 and now settled in Singapore, he was out with friends near the Southern Islands in February 2022 when he spotted two men struggling in the water and dived in without hesitation. Years of freediving experience proved crucial. He’d recently completed a course in rescue techniques, which he used to revive one of the men, Rajnish, after pulling him unconscious from the sea. His second attempt failed. An orphan known only as “Money,” a 24-year-old who had travelled to Singapore chasing a better life, was swept away and never found.

Survivor’s gratitude, years in the making

Rajnish woke up alive because of Ortiz’s actions that day, yet the man who died stayed with him. Singapore later recognised Ortiz’s bravery, though he points out an odd quirk in how such acts are honoured there, rescuers receive a medal only if the person they saved survives. “If you save another person, they make you a hero here. But if the victim dies, they don’t,” he said. That imbalance never sat easily with him. “I didn’t have time to launch this project earlier for personal reasons, but this situation always weighed on me,” Ortiz explained, describing years of feeling powerless until he finally returned to the exact spot where the tragedy unfolded.

Turning heartbreak into a 5,000km relay

Named The Long Way Home, Ortiz’s campaign invites swimmers worldwide to collectively cover 5,000 kilometres, which is roughly the distance between Singapore and India, tracing a route across the Indian Ocean and up the Ganges. Rajnish himself guided Ortiz by kayak during a six-hour circumnavigation swim around Singapore’s Southern Islands to launch the challenge, an effort now pending certification from the World Open Water Swimming Association. Beyond running the project, Ortiz also handles its media and press relations, working to bring international swimmers on board, so far the challenge has attracted far more participants from Singapore than from his native Spain, something he calls “very sad” given where the beneficiary foundation is based.

Fundraising progress so far

Running from June through December 2026, the relay has already bought in 61 participants who’ve logged over 480 kilometres and raised more than $3,600 toward a $35,000 goal, leaving thousands of kilometres and dollars still to go before the finish line.

Money raised will support two schools run by the Hope and Joy Foundation (Fundacion Esperanza y Alegria), a Spanish charity that has spent over two decades providing healthcare, safety and education to vulnerable children across India. “This person represents every anonymous orphan,” Ortiz said. “We want to turn a tragedy into a story of hope.”

To read more about this fascinating story and charity, or if you would like to swim to raise runs then visit the www.thelongwayhomeproject.com.