An Australian sailor and his dog, adrift for three months in the Pacific Ocean, survived on his damaged vessel by eating raw fish and drinking rainwater.
Timothy Lyndsay Shaddock, 54, and his pup, Bella, were found alive aboard his catamaran, Aloha Toa, in the Pacific about 1,200 miles from land after the crew of a Mexican tuna boat from the Grupomar fleet spotted them, the company said Monday in a statement.
“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 a long time,” Shaddock, who appeared thin and bearded, said in a video broadcast by Australia’s 9News television on Sunday night Australian time.
“Otherwise, I’m in very good health,” Shaddock said.
The crew of the tuna vessel said they found the pair in a “precarious” state, lacking food provisions and shelter. Grupomar did not provide specific details on what day Shaddock was rescued or when he had started his voyage.
Timothy Shaddock and his dog, Bella, were aboard his disabled catamaran Aloha Toa some 1,200 miles from land when they were rescued. (Grupomar / Atun Tuny via AP)
MYSTERY ‘SPACE DEBRIS’ WASHES UP ON AUSTRALIAN BEACH
Shaddock’s doctor told 9News that he had “normal vital signs” and, along with Bella, was “stable and very well.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.