A New Zealand man managed to survive almost 24 hours floating in the ocean after accidentally falling off a fishing boat and encountering a shark, authorities reported. Police revealed that he was ultimately rescued when fishermen on another boat spotted the sun reflecting on the man’s watch.
The man was not identified, but Whangamatā Police sergeant Will Hamilton said in a news release that the fisherman had set off on a solo fishing trip on Jan. 2. The man was in a 40-foot boat and planned to return on Jan. 3, but near the Alderman Islands off New Zealand’s northern coastline, he hooked a large fish and fell overboard.
The individual made an effort to catch up with his drifting boat, but it continued to move out of reach, according to Hamilton. Subsequently, he attempted to swim towards the Alderman Islands, but strong currents diverted him.
In the course of the night, the man found himself unable to sustain continuous swimming. Despite enduring a nerve-wracking encounter with a shark, which approached him for a closer inspection but eventually departed, he spent the night in the ocean. A New Zealand man
The following day, at approximately 2 p.m. local time, three fishermen on a boat near one of the islands noticed an unusual reflection on the water. Investigating further, they discovered a man desperately trying to get their attention by using the sun’s reflection on his watch.
Acting promptly, the three fishermen rescued the man and transported him to Whangamatā Marina, where they informed the police about the incident. Emergency responders were present at the marina to assist. Upon his return to dry land, the man was described as hypothermic and exhausted in the news release, with no further details available about his condition.
While the man’s boat remains unrecovered, police and the Rescue Coordination Centre have disseminated information about the vessel, urging others at sea to report any sightings of empty powered boats.
Describing the event as an “absolute miracle,” Hamilton expressed gratitude for the quick and effective actions of the three fishermen. He emphasized that without their intervention, the situation could have ended tragically. The police extended their heartfelt appreciation to the vigilant trio for recognizing and investigating something out of the ordinary, ultimately saving the man’s life.