Australian Man And His Dog Drift Off In Pacific For 3 Months, Rescued By Mexican Tuna Boat

An Australian sailor with his dog was adrift in the sea for three months and has been rescued by a Mexican tuna boat in international waters. 

Timothy Lyndsay Shaddock who is 54 years old was travelling in his incapacitated catamaran Aloha Toa in the Pacific some 1,200 miles from land. This is when the crew of the boat from the Grupomar fleet spotted them, reportedly. 

The Australian sailor and his dog started the journey from Mexico's city of La Paz but the electronics in the vessel got cut off due to bad weather. They drifted into the hostile and huge North Pacific Ocean and were left to survive on what they could catch for three months.

Finding the duo in a 'precarious' state, the crew of the tuna boat gave them medical attention, food and hydration, reportedly and the doctor aboard the boat checked his vitals which turned out to be normal. 

When Shaddock was rescued he was ina leaner state and had an overgrown beard. He told the media, "I have been through a very difficult ordeal at sea." He added, "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."

Shaddock mentioned that the fishing gear he had helped the two survive in the vessel and he protected himself from sunburn by sheltering under the canopy of the boat.

Reportedly he was found smiling when rescued and was able to eat small meals. He will be receiving further medical treatment and some medical tests.

The tuna boat, captained by Oscar Meza Oregón, was expected to arrive in the Pacific coast port of Manzanillo on Tuesday with Shaddock and Bella.

Antonio Suárez Gutiérrez, Grupomar's founder and president, said he was proud of his crew, praising them for their humanity in saving the life of someone in trouble.