Australian Man and Dog Rescued After Surviving Two Months at Sea
By Yaron Steinbuch | July 17, 2023 | 9:21am
An Australian man and his dog have been rescued in the Pacific Ocean after surviving for two months on rainwater and raw fish. Tim Shaddock, a 51-year-old cancer survivor from Sydney, and his dog Bella embarked on a catamaran journey from La Paz, Mexico, to French Polynesia in April. However, their vessel was damaged in a storm several weeks later, leaving them stranded.
During their time adrift in the Pacific, Shaddock and Bella relied on drinking rainwater and eating raw fish to sustain themselves. Their extraordinary survival story came to an end when a helicopter, conducting surveillance for a tuna trawler, spotted their tiny catamaran in the middle of the vast ocean.
Photos taken after their rescue show Shaddock looking emaciated and bedraggled, reminiscent of Tom Hanks’ character in the survival film “Cast Away.” However, unlike Hanks’ character who had a volleyball named Wilson as his only companion, Shaddock had Bella, his loyal dog, by his side.
Shaddock and Bella were taken aboard the trawler and appeared to be in remarkably good shape given the extreme conditions they had endured. Shaddock attributed his endurance to a combination of luck, skill, and his knowledge of how to survive in the harsh environment. Ocean survival expert Mike Tipton explained that Shaddock was fortunate to be in a warm environment as survival in colder climates would have been much more challenging.
Tipton described Shaddock’s rescue as a “needle in a haystack” scenario, highlighting the vastness of the Pacific Ocean and the small size of Shaddock’s boat. He also emphasized the importance of having a positive mental attitude and a plan for rationing food and water during such ordeals.
Shaddock, who previously survived bowel cancer, will now need to slowly return to a normal diet after subsisting on meager offerings at sea. Friends describe him as an adventurous individual who seeks new challenges in life.
The story of Tim Shaddock and Bella serves as a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the bond between humans and their animal companions. Their remarkable survival against the odds is a reminder of the resilience of the human body and the power of hope in the face of adversity.