A seaman in his 30s miraculously survived almost 20 hours at sea after falling off a cargo ship near Australia's southeastern coast. The man was rescued by a recreational angler who found him drifting several kilometers away from the ship. The incident occurred on Thursday night when the seaman was last seen aboard the Singapore-flagged bulk carrier, Double Delight.
Details surrounding how the man fell overboard are still unclear. However, upon rescue, he was found wearing a life jacket and was conscious but severely hypothermic and exhausted. Despite his condition, he was able to communicate with the rescuers.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) was alerted to the situation by local officials, who reported that the seaman had gone overboard approximately 8 kilometers southeast of Newcastle. In response, water police, marine rescue units, two sea vessels, and two helicopters were deployed for the rescue operation.
Jason Richards from NSW Marine Rescue expressed initial uncertainty about the duration the man had spent in the water. It was later confirmed that he had been missing since 11:30 p.m., prompting an increase in search efforts. The news of the seaman's survival was met with relief and joy by the rescue teams.
