TWO Swansea fishermen have been hailed heroes for rescuing a sailor who had been missing at sea for almost 18 hours.
Doctor Glen Valaire and his fishing buddy of 40 years, Lee Pitt, discovered the Vietnamese national floating in the open ocean on Friday night.
The man was reported missing from a 234-metre cargo ship, Double Delight, about 11pm the night before when he allegedly jumped into the ocean wearing a life jacket eight kilometres off Redhead.
Swansea MP and Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said on Monday said she wanted to say a "big thank you" to Dr Valaire and Mr Pitt.
"That's our community. That's the community we are," she said.
"If people see someone in trouble, even if they don't know them, they'll help them out."
Ms Catley said she would be recognising their efforts.
"I'll be in Parliament tomorrow and I intend to make a contribution in Parliament for a community recognition statement," she said.
Ms Catley said she thanked all the first responders involved in the search on Friday and the emergency service workers who rushed to the beach to meet the fishermen and help the man.
The sailor had spent almost 18 hours in the sea when Dr Valaire and Mr Pitt came across him at about 6.30pm on Friday, six kilometres off Blacksmiths beach, as they drove their 5.5-metre boat home from a day of fishing.
"He was just spent," Dr Valaire told the Newcastle Herald on Sunday.
"Absolutely exhausted, the poor bloke. He was dehydrated, hypothermic and totally exhausted. He couldn't sit up."
They checked with him if there was anyone else in the water because they had no idea what had happened.
They called paramedics and the police.
The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital, where he remained on Monday night in a stable condition, according to Hunter New England Health.
The fishing buddies stumbled across the missing ship crewman by sheer luck, looking closely at the water to ensure they didn't hit crab traps or whales as the sunset created glare.
"So you're always looking, and there was a bit of foam, and my mate said, 'Glen, there's someone in the water'," Dr Valaire said on Sunday.
"I thought no way. But this guy had enough strength to put one arm up."
The Herald understands the Australian Border Force (ABF) was investigating the incident and whether the sailor had jumped overboard with the intention of entering the country illegally.
An ABF spokesperson said they did not comment on "operational matters".
The Double Delight left Japan in mid-October and was due to enter Port of Newcastle late on Friday night.
