Australian sailor miraculously rescued after two months drifting in Pacific surviving on raw fish and rainwater
Rescuers have filmed the moment they picked up an Aussie man and his dog who drifted at sea for months, surviving on raw fish and rainwater.
Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella were rescued after two months adrift in the Pacific Ocean.
An Australian sailor and his dog have survived months adrift in the Pacific Ocean by eating raw fish and drinking rain water.
Sydney man Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella were picked up by a tuna trawler off the coast of Mexico, after being spotted by a helicopter accompanying the ship, two months after their ship was damaged in a storm.
Rescuers have filmed the moment they picked up an Aussie man and his dog who drifted at sea for months, surviving on…
Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella were rescued after two months adrift in the Pacific Ocean. Picture: Nine News
The pair set sail from La Paz in Mexico to French Polynesia in April, but a few weeks into the journey a bad storm destroyed electronics on the catamaran.
Nine News obtained footage of the miraculous rescue, filmed by rescuers, which shows a gaunt and shaggy Mr Shaddock explaining he only had “fishing gear, survival gear” aboard the catamaran.
Rescuers filmed the moment the intercepted Mr Shaddock. Picture: Nine News
Once on board the trawler, he recalled his “very difficult ordeal at sea”.
“I‘m just needing rest and good food because I have been alone at sea a long time,” he said.
“I have not had food, enough food for a long time.”
Despite the ordeal, Mr Shaddock was relatively unscathed. Picture: Nine News.
A doctor has likened it to Tom Hanks’ film ‘Castaway’. Picture: Nine News
Yet, despite only having rain water to drink and eating raw fish to survive for two months, doctors say Mr Shaddock suffered no major illness or injury during his time lost at sea.
It is understood he also avoided sunburn by hiding under a canopy on the catamaran.
“I have very good medicine and I’m being looked after very well,” Mr Shaddock said.
Mr Shaddock survived off raw fish, rainwater, and avoided sunburn by sheltering under a canopy on the catamaran. Picture: Nine News
A specialist doctor assisting Mr Shaddock’s recovery told Nine News the sailor is eating small meals and remaining conscious and chatty following the ordeal – which he likened to something out of the movie Castaway.
Mr Shaddock is still on a journey to dry land in Mexico where he will receive more medical treatment.
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Boat Watch Facebook Group has a link to a video by Channel 9 of his rescue and interview.