A man from Australia who survived two months lost at sea with only his pet dog has finally spoken out about how the pair made it through the ordeal.
Back in April, Timothy Shaddock set off from La Paz in Mexico in an attempt to sail across the Pacific Ocean towards French Polynesia.
However, just a month into the journey, the 54-year-old's catamaran was damaged by a storm that also affected the boat's electronic system, leaving him stranded approximately 1,200 miles from shore.
After surviving almost three months at sea with just his pet pooch Bella, Shaddock was rescued by a Mexican tuna trawler following an alert by a helicopter that noticed the stranded boat as it was flying over the area.
Speaking of the ordeal, the Sydney native said that he is doing much "better" now that he's reconnected with civilization.
"I’m feeling alright. I’m feeling a lot better than I was," Shaddock told reporters as he stepped off the boat at a port in Manzanilla, a city approximately 210 miles west of Mexico City.
"To the captain and fishing company that saved my life, I’m just so grateful. I’m alive and I didn’t really think I’d make it," Shaddock said, adding that he and his "amazing" pet are both doing well.
Describing himself as a "quiet person who loves being alone on the ocean," the lone wolf was initially lost for words when asked why he set off on such a major voyage, especially given all the potential risks involved.
"I’m not sure I have the answer to that, but I very much enjoy sailing and I love the people of the sea," he continued. "It’s the people of the sea that make us all come together. The ocean is in us. We are the ocean."
When the sailor realized the severity of the situation after the storm, he did everything he could to survive, feasting on raw fish and rainwater to keep his body going.
"There were many, many, many bad days and many good days," he said. "The energy, the fatigue is the hardest part.
However, to remain positive about the unfortunate situation, he spent his time taking a dip and "just [enjoying] being in the water."
According to a report by AP, when he was rescued by the Mexican fishing boat, apparently Shaddock and Bella were both in a "precarious" state, but thankfully, after receiving medical attention, food, and water, they were doing a lot better - and the dog seemed to be extra thankful for the crew as they bonded during the rescue mission.
"Bella sort of found me in the middle of Mexico. She’s Mexican," the 54-year-old explained. "She’s the spirit of the middle of the country and she wouldn’t let me go. I tried to find a home for her three times and she just kept following me onto the water.
"She’s a lot braver than I am, that’s for sure," he added.
Bella has now been adopted by one of the crew members and will be returning back to her home country as Shaddock plans his return to his.
We wish the pair a speedy recovery.
