The dramatic moment a man who fell from was rescued from the ocean was caught in startling images.
The man managed to survive 19 hours off the Australian coast with his ID, wallet and cigarettes strapped to him in a sealed plastic bag. He had fallen from the 235 metre Double Delight at around 11:30pm on Thursday, November 7 and swam most of the night on Friday. He was still 5km off shore when he was spotted by fishermen on Friday afternoon.
Glen Valaire, one of the fishermen who is also a doctor, treated the man reported to be in his 20s and a Vietnamese national. “My friend said to me ''Glen, Glen, there's someone in the water'' it was just an absolute miracle that we came across this guy,' Dr Valaire said to Nine News.
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“He was so fatigued he had to lay down in the back of the boat, he was freezing cold, had a weak pulse, super pale and we were concerned for him.”
Paramedics met them at Boatrowers Reserve at Blacksmith Beach in Swansea, New South Wales so the man could receive medical treatment. They arrived at 6:30pm on Friday, roughly 19 hours after the man had fallen from Double Delight and the man was suffering from dehydration and hypothermia. He was taken to John Hunter Hospital nearby.
Reports indicate Australian Border Force is looking into if the man went overboard intentionally. On Friday, the Newcastle Harbourmaster told the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) a man had fallen into the water, prompting an air and sea search. A Westpac Rescue helicopter from Williamtown along with a Belmont-based Defence chopper was sent to look for the man, while NSW Water Police, local Marine Rescue unites and a Water Police vessel were sent to help.
“He was conscious, he was able to communicate with us, he was very cold, he was hypothermic and exhausted - he was absolutely exhausted,” NSW Ambulance paramedic Erin Laughton said. She said the man’s age would have helped him while he was in the water, but that it was remarkable he was found alive. The man was also wearing a life jacket.
The Double Delight arrived at the Australian port of Newcastle on November 8 and is currently on its way to Taiwan, according to the website VesselFinder.
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