A sailor and his dog were rescued after being stranded for three months in the Pacific Ocean, surviving on only raw fish and rainwater, Australian media outlet 9News has reported.
A few weeks after Tim Shaddock, 51, and his dog Bella set sail from La Paz, Mexico towards French Polynesia, a storm struck damaging their vessel and electronics, Shaddock told 9News. They were rescued after a helicopter accompanying a Mexico-bound tuna trawler spotted their boat over the weekend.
“I have been through a very difficult ordeal at sea,” Shaddock told 9News. “I’m just needing rest and good food because I’ve been alone at sea a long time.”
“I have not had food, enough food, for a long time,” added Shaddock, sharing that he and his dog ate only raw fish and drank rainwater to survive. He added that he had fishing and other survival gear with him, which helped.
Shaddock told the media outlet that he avoided sunburn by sheltering under his boat’s canopy.
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Professor Mike Tipton, an ocean survival expert, while talking to 9News said that while the experience was extremely isolating, it helped that Shaddock had his dog to look after.
“He had companionship. Once you’ve got enough food and water, then I think the dog has an advantage,” Tipton said while speaking to 9News.
A doctor who treated Shaddock on the trawler told 9News that Shaddock’s vital signs were stable and that he was in good spirits. He will receive more medical assistance once the trawler arrives back in Mexico. Bella is also safe and well.
