A Sydney man, 51, and his dog have been rescued after being stranded at sea for months, surviving on a diet of raw fish and rainwater.
Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella had been floating in the Pacific Ocean for two months after a storm damaged his catamaran’s electronics and communication system, just weeks after they had set off.
Shaddock left La Paz in Mexico in April and was attempting to reach French Polynesia, more than 5,000km away, when his boat was damaged by the storm.
The pair were rescued after a helicopter conducting surveillance for a Mexican fishing trawler found them on 12 July.
A picture of Shaddock, posted by the trawler after the rescue, showed he had grown a long beard during his time at sea.
“The tuna boat ‘MARÍA DELIA’ of the marindustrias company has just rescued a castaway after three months adrift. There is no doubt God is great,” the post said.
Shaddock survived for two months by eating raw fish, drinking rainwater and hiding from the sun under a canopy in the small vessel.
Footage of Shaddock after his rescue, which was obtained by 9News, showed him explaining that despite his ordeal he was in good health.
“I’ve just got fishing gear, survival gear,” he said.
“I’ve been through a very difficult ordeal at sea and I’m just needing rest and good food because I’ve been alone at sea for a long time … I have not had enough food for a long time. … I have very good medicine, I’m being looked after very well.”
The tuna trawler is now heading back to Mexico where Shaddock will undergo medical tests and receive more treatment if needed.
