He ate raw fish: castaway survives three months at sea

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Tim Shaddock (51) and his dog Bella were floating around in the Pacific Ocean – on a damaged ship, with no food and no water. That they survived for three months is nothing short of a miracle.

According to a report from the TV channel “9News”, the Australian started his catamaran from La Paz (Mexico). Destination: French Polynesia, an archipelago 6,000 kilometers away in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

rainwater and fish

But after a few weeks, the sailor was caught in a storm that damaged the catamaran. The ship was not manoeuvrable, the radio and on-board electronics failed. Now Shaddock was about survival.

Lucky for him: he had a fishing rod with him and was able to catch fish. This is how he fed himself and Bella every day: With raw fish. It also collects rainwater.

Finally, after three months, the rescue: the crew of a helicopter escorting a tuna trawler discovered the castaway. The first photos show him with a long beard, emaciated – but smiling.

“What I need now is rest”

“I survived a very difficult time at sea,” he said. “What I need most now is rest and good food, because I’ve been alone at sea for so long.” A doctor tells “9News” that it is important that he slowly gets used to normal eating again.

He said Shaddock was incredibly lucky: “You have to understand how small the boat is and how big the Pacific Ocean is. The chances of someone being found there are pretty slim.” (new)

Source: Blick