How an Australian man and his dog stranded at sea were rescued after 3 months
Photo - Tim Shaddock, the Australian sailor with his dog who survived nearly three months stranded at sea. Credit- Associated Press
Tim Shaddock, a 54-year-old Australian sailor, and his dog Bella, were rescued after being stranded at sea for three long months. Their remarkable journey in the Pacific Ocean captured the world's attention as they defied the odds to make it back to safety.
🤍🐾 Tim Shaddock, an Australian man and his dog Bella were rescued today after 3 months at sea.
— Maile (@MailePRMedia) July 19, 2023
They survived on rain water and raw fish, together. They were found in the Pacific Ocean, floating aboard a catamaran, 1,200 miles from land.
Welcome home Tim & Bella! 🐾
(Images… pic.twitter.com/y1HPOnEAXH
Tim Shaddock - a glimpse into his life
- Born on October 12, 1971, in Sydney, Australia, Tim initially worked in the IT industry.
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However, his true passions for bushwalking and sailing eventually led him to retire from the corporate world and embark on daring adventures.
Tim Shaddock in his younger years. (Right- Tim with his daughter). Photo credit- The Raw Food Kitchen - Facing a challenging diagnosis of stage 4 bowel cancer, Tim embraced a raw food diet, which he believes helped him overcome the odds.
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Fascinated by the medical health benefits of raw food, he delved into studying the subject.
The Voyage with Bella - a fateful decision
- In April, Tim embarked on a daring solo expedition from the Mexican coast, with the ambitious goal of reaching French Polynesia on his catamaran. When asked about his motivation for such a challenging journey, he was unable to pinpoint a specific reason.
Bella, the dog who was with Tim Shaddock during the tough time. Phpto credit: Associated Press - Before setting sail, fate brought him to Bella, a loyal dog who became his constant companion throughout the perilous journey, accompanying him on his daring expedition.
Here she is - Bella, Timothy Shaddock’s beautiful dog. Tim says Bella got him through his ordeal. @9NewsAUS @TheTodayShow pic.twitter.com/wJWw0vgCaf
— Lauren Tomasi (@LaurenTomasi) July 18, 2023
The struggle at sea
Shortly after commencing his voyage, a powerful storm struck, causing severe damage to his vessel and disabling its electronics. Left stranded in the vast ocean, Tim, Bella, and the catamaran faced the daunting challenge of survival with no land in sight and no means of communication.
Drawing on his survival skills and knowledge, Tim ingeniously sustained himself during those harrowing months:
- He caught fish and consumed them raw, humorously referring to it as his "sushi."
- To quench his thirst, he collected rainwater, as the surrounding seawater was undrinkable.
Rescue and return
Luck smiled upon Tim when a helicopter, searching for tuna, spotted the distressed catamaran. The crew alerted the authorities, including the Australian embassy, to ensure Tim's safe return home.
On a fateful day, Tim, 54, finally disembarked from the Maria Delia, the Mexican tuna trawler that came to his rescue. Grupomar, the trawler's owner, collaborated with authorities to ensure Tim's safe repatriation to Australia.
A bittersweet farewell
Although Tim is now safely back in Australia, his loyal companion Bella remains in Mexico with a new owner whom he had arranged to adopt her before embarking on his journey.
A parallel tale of survival in India
In 2020, a group of nine fishermen from Chennai faced a similar tale of survival. Stranded for 55 days, only eight of them managed to survive by catching fish and consuming them raw, alongside drinking rainwater.
Amidst the challenges of navigating heavy winds and unexpected directions, their journey took an unforeseen turn when one of the fishermen, Babur, went missing while attempting to untangle the boat's anchor.
Despite continuous search operations, his fate remains unknown.