Posted on 12/21/2022 2:08:30 PM PST by nickcarraway
A man whose boat capsized in stormy seas off Australia's north coast was rescued on Wednesday after he survived for almost 24 hours in shark- and crocodile-infested waters by clinging to a piece of wood.
The Queensland man was found floating in the Torres Strait 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from his upturned dinghy by an air rescue crew.
He was "clinging to some flotsam" and was winched to safety, according to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which posted images of the capsized boat and the man's rescue on social media.
The man, who was not named, was "very lucky" to have survived, the authority said in a statement.
He had "departed Getullai Island (on Tuesday) and failed to arrive at their destination by the expected time," the statement said.
A search by rescue aircraft late Tuesday was unsuccessful. The hunt resumed in the morning with the aircraft, a helicopter and a police vessel involved.
By late morning "the upturned dinghy was located in the water and following a short aerial search the missing person was found about two kilometers from the dinghy," the authority said.
There are nearly 300 islands off the northern tip of Australia.
Most of the islands' residents are Indigenous Torres Strait Islanders, with close ties to territories in both Australia and Papua New Guinea.
The Torres Strait consists of 18 islands, which are scattered over a geographic area of 48,000 square kilometers, according to the government. Sharks represent an important symbol in the region, the government notes, as they are "known as the protector of the reef."
The incident comes about two months after three men whose fishing boat sank in the Gulf of Mexico were rescued after surviving for more than a day despite being attacked by sharks that inflicted deep cuts on their hands and shredded one of their life jackets.
Almost happened to me. I thought I was signing up for “Swimming With the Stars” but it was sharks. Darned dyslexia anyways.
In before the Jaws references.
Must be an attorney, sharks gave him professional courtesy.
Or a politician
I’m friends with a retired rescue swimmer. He told me of a time he rescued some people hundreds of miles offshore when their boat sank.
After he got them winched into the helicopter, the pilot got on the radio and said “outta gas.see you in a few hours.” And left.
Sometimes that shark looks right at ya. Right into your eyes. And the thing about a shark is he's got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll's eyes. When he comes at ya, he doesn't even seem to be livin'... 'til he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white and then... ah then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin'. The ocean turns red, and despite all your poundin' and your hollerin' those sharks come in and... they rip you to pieces.
I thought they pulled Natalie out 40 years ago!
(Too soon?)
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