Aussie sailor is rescued after surviving two months lost in the middle of the Pacific with his dog Bella by eating raw fish and drinking rainwater: ‘Real life Cast Away’
- Aussie sailor rescued after becoming lost in the Pacific Ocean
- Tim Shaddock and dog Bella survived on raw fish and rainwater
- The Sydney man’s catamaran was hit by a storm two months ago
An Australian sailor and his dog have been miraculously rescued after the pair spent months drifting on the Pacific Ocean eating raw fish and drinking rainwater.
Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella were picked up by a tuna trawler off the coast of Mexico after a helicopter accompanying the ship spotted their catamaran.
The Sydney man left La Paz in Mexico in April bound for French Polynesia but a few weeks into the journey a storm destroyed the electronics on his vessel.
Mr Shaddock said he was forced to drift for two months with only his dog for company with the pair eating raw fish and drinking rainwater to stay alive.
Tim Shaddock (pictured) and his pooch Bella were picked up by tuna trawler off the coast of Mexico after spending several months drifting in the Pacific Ocean
The Sydney man left La Paz in Mexico in April bound for French Polynesia but a few weeks into the journey a storm destroyed the electronics on his vessel
Footage of his miraculous rescue obtained by Nine News showed a lean Mr Shaddock sporting an overgrown grey beard as he spoke to authorities.
His dog Bella was seen wagging her tail at the camera crew who filmed the sailor’s catamaran littered with buckets and equipment.
‘I’ve just got fishing gear, survival gear,’ he was heard telling a man from the ship.
Mr Shaddock said he had endured a very difficult ordeal before he was rescued by the trawler and hadn’t eaten enough food for ‘a long time’.
‘I’m needing some rest and some good food because I’ve been alone at sea for a very long time,’ the sailor said.
‘I have very good medicine and I’m being looked after very well.’
An image of Mr Shaddock after his rescue showed him sporting a wide grin with a blood pressure monitor attached to his arm.
An image of Mr Shaddock after his rescue showed him sporting a beaming smile with a blood pressure monitor attached to his arm (pictured)
Mr Shaddock (pictured with his dog Bella) said he had endured a very difficult ordeal before he was rescued by the trawler and hadn’t eaten enough food for ‘a long time’
A specialist doctor on the trawler compared Mr Shaddock’s dire situation to the Tom Hank’s movie Castaway (pictured)
A specialist doctor on the trawler said Mr Shaddock is starting by eating small meals while remaining conscious and chatty following the ordeal.
It is understood he has suffered no major illness or injury during the time lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
The sailor has also avoided sunburn by hiding under a canopy on his vessel.
The doctor compared Mr Shaddock’s dire situation to the Tom Hank’s movie Castaway – with the image of the star’s lean and bearded character bearing an uncanny resemblance to the Aussie sailor.
The trawler has commenced its slow journey back to Mexico where Mr Shaddock will receive more medical treatment.
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