A Man Drifting in the Pacific for Two Months Surviving on Raw Fish and Rainwater... Dramatically Rescued

Communication System Damaged by Severe Weather in the Pacific
Drifting with Pets and Enduring... "Health is Good"

A man in Australia was dramatically rescued after drifting in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for two months with his dog.

According to the British BBC and other media on the 17th (local time), Tim Shaddock (51) from Sydney set off in April from the Mexican beach city of La Paz with his dog 'Bella' on a catamaran, heading to French Polynesia about 5,000 km away. A catamaran is a boat with two hulls.

However, just weeks after departure, Shaddock encountered severe weather in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The storm damaged part of the boat as well as the communication system. As a result, Shaddock and Bella drifted, surviving by eating raw fish and drinking rainwater.

Team Shadow and their dog Bella.
[Image source=Twitter·Yonhap News]

Fortunately, the boat he was on was equipped with minimal survival tools such as fishing gear. During the daytime, they took shelter under the canopy installed on the boat to avoid the heat.

Later, on the 12th, Shaddock and Bella were discovered by a helicopter monitoring fishing activities off the coast of Mexico. A nearby tuna fishing vessel immediately rescued Shaddock and Bella. At the time of rescue, Shaddock was wearing two hats to protect his skin from the sun, and had a thick beard. Bella reportedly wagged her tail to greet the rescue team.

The doctor who checked Shaddock’s health on site said he was not seriously injured and was in a "healthy condition." In fact, Shaddock was seen smiling broadly with a blood pressure monitor on his arm right after the rescue.

Shaddock also said, "I am very healthy," adding, "I went through a very tough ordeal at sea and was alone for a long time, so I need rest and good food." He will undergo a thorough examination in Mexico and receive additional treatment if necessary.

This is not the first case of being rescued after drifting at sea. Earlier in January, a man who survived for 24 days on the Caribbean Sea by living on tomato ketchup was rescued by the Colombian Navy.

This man was swept out to sea during bad weather while repairing a sailboat at the harbor. However, he signaled a passing passenger plane by reflecting sunlight with a mirror, which the plane spotted and reported to authorities, enabling his rescue. He recalled, "All I had on the boat was a bottle of ketchup, garlic powder, and broth cubes," and said, "I mixed them with water and managed to survive."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.