Australian man and dog survive 2 months in Pacific Ocean
What's the story
In a strange piece of news coming in from Sydney, Australia, a man named Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella survived an astounding two months in the Pacific Ocean. The 51-year-old sailor was on his way to French Polynesia from Mexico when his boat got damaged by an intense storm weeks later. Luckily, they were rescued this week when a helicopter spotted them.
Survival
The duo survived by eating raw fish and drinking rainwater
Per reports, Shaddock and his dog survived by eating raw fish and drinking rainwater. Surprisingly, the duo is "healthy and very well" as per what the doctor who ran their medical tests told BBC. He also revealed that the man has "normal vital signs" and there is no need to admit him to the hospital. To prevent sunburns, they sheltered under the boat's canopy.
Incident
'I am just needing rest and good food': Shaddock
Shaddock revealed that he had been through a very difficult ordeal at the ocean. He had become far leaner and sported an overgrown beard owing to improper nutrition and grooming. He told BBC that all he needs at the moment is "rest and good food" since he spent a long time in the ocean. The man claims to be in "very good health."
Information
His fishing gear helped him survive all this time
Thanks to his fishing gear, Shaddock and Bella were able to survive in the ocean. When rescued, he came out smiling and wearing a blood pressure monitor on his arm. He told Weekend Today, "It was a combination of luck and skill."
Previous events
This isn't the first time he overcame a grave challenge
The recent event at the ocean isn't the first time Shaddock has faced adversity. About two decades ago, the sailor was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer and overcame it by adopting a raw food diet! Back in 2013, he once revealed how he had prepared a bucket list before making the dietary change and discovering new health regimens.
Information
His rescue has drawn comparisons to Tom Hank's 'Cast Away'
As soon as Shaddock's incident came to the world's knowledge, people compared it to the 2000-released movie Cast Away starring Tom Hanks. The story is about Chuck (Hanks) who finds himself stuck on a deserted island with no resources after a deadly plane crash.
Similar incidents
Previously, a man spent 2.5 days trapped in Atlantic Ocean
Last year in May, Harrison Okene survived two and a half days stuck inside a boat 30 meters below the surface of the expansive Atlantic Ocean. He was aboard Jacson-4 when it was swept away by turbulent rains and crushing waves 30 km off the coast of Nigeria. As the sole survivor among the boat's crew, he was rescued in a near-death condition.