A man and his dog have miraculously survived two months adrift in the Pacific Ocean after their boat was damaged in a storm.
Tim Shaddock, a 51-year-old cancer survivor from Australia, and his black dog Bella had set off from La Paz in Mexico in April, aiming to reach French Polynesia on their catamaran.
However, a month into their trip, their jaunt across the waters ended up turning into a real-life Cast Away experience when a storm damaged their boat, leaving them stranded in the middle of the ocean.
Despite the dire circumstances, Tim and Bella were finally rescued on Wednesday, having survived the past two months by drinking rainwater and eating raw fish for sustenance.
The Sydney resident and his faithful four-legged pal were finally spotted by a helicopter doing surveillance for a tuna trawler after their tiny catamaran was seen bobbing on the water.
Similarly to Tom Hanks' character in the 2000 hit movie, Tim was seen emerging from his vessel looking bedraggled with an overgrown beard and hair, as well as emaciated from the lack of food.
Thankfully, rather than a volleyball named Wilson for company, Tim had Bella the dog to spend time with instead.
In a video of the amazing rescue, Tim is asked his name, to which he responds: "I’m Tim Shaddock, I’m from Australia."
He told 9News: "I have been through a very difficult ordeal at sea. I’m just needing rest and good food because I have been alone at sea a long time. Otherwise, I’m in very good health."
Tim even showed off the results of a blood pressure test which showed he was in remarkable physical condition against the odds.
Mike Tipton, an ocean survival expert, said Tim and Bella had survived the two-month ordeal due to a "combination of luck and skill."
He added: "And also knowing, for example, as Tim did, that during the heat of the day, you need to protect yourself because the last thing you want when you’re in danger of becoming dehydrated is to be sweating."
The expert added that Tim was able to get a supply of fresh water thanks to the location and the climate, as people are more able to survive the warm weather rather than being stranded in freezing climates.
He described the rescue as a "needle in a haystack" scenario, adding: "People need to appreciate how small the boat is and how vast the Pacific is. The chances of someone being found are pretty slim."
Having Bella around to boost his morale is also likely to have helped Tim, as Mike added: "You’re living very much from day to day, and you have to have a very positive mental attitude in order to get through this kind of ordeal and not give up.
"Just imagine how dark and lonely it would feel out there at nighttime. But also, having a plan, rationing yourself in terms of water and food, is really the secret to long survival voyages."
According to friends, Tim had retired from working in the IT industry and was looking for new challenge when he set off on his voyage.
He had also battled bowel cancer around 20 years earlier, crediting fasting and eating a raw food diet with helping him beat the disease.
He previously told The Raw Food Kitchen: "When my health was at a critical stage, it involved a lot of fasting, juicing and smoothies. I recall spending over three months living solely on green vegetable juice at one stage."
Here's hoping Tim and Bella choose a quieter life on dry land from now on.
