An Australian sailor and his dog have been rescued off the coast of Mexico after surviving for two months at sea, feeding only on rainwater and raw fish.
Tim Shaddock set sail for French Polynesia from Mexico in April, but his catamaran was badly damaged in a storm just a month into the voyage.
The 51-year-old man and his dog Bella survived under a small cover aboard the battered vessel for weeks until they were spotted by a helicopter on Thursday searching for tuna for a fishing boat.
A doctor who monitors Tim Shaddock’s health from shore and works with the captain of the fishing boat told Australia’s 9News that the seafarer has “normal vital signs” and is “stable and very well.”
In a video, Tim Shaddock said: “I’ve been through a very difficult experience at sea, and now I just need rest and good food because I’ve been alone at sea for a long time. I haven’t had enough food for a long time.”
Tim Shaddock, originally from Sydney, was left adrift in the Pacific Ocean after being struck by bad weather weeks after leaving La Paz, on Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. The electronic systems of his boat were destroyed in the storm, leaving him unable to call for help.
Ocean survival expert Professor Mike Tipton of the University of Portsmouth explained that Shaddock’s survival was a combination of luck and skill. Being in a warm environment, he did not have to worry about hypothermia and managed to survive by collecting rainwater and eating raw fish.
The fishing boat with Shaddock on board is now expected to head to Mexico, where he will receive medical treatment. His surprising story of survival reminds us of the strength and resilience of the human spirit when faced with extreme situations in the vastness of the ocean.