COLOMBO – Five Sri Lankan fishermen who had consumed the contents in a bottle floating in the sea on Saturday had died by Sunday afternoon, said a Navy spokesman.

The victims are part of a six-man crew that sailed from the Tangalle Fisheries Harbor, according to Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya.

They have found the bottle around 320 nautical miles off the coast and consumed its contents taking it for alcohol, he said.

Wickramasuriya said one survivor is in critical condition and currently receiving emergency treatment.