A Mexican tuna fishing vessel rescued a 54-year-old Australian sailor and his dog 1,200 miles off the Pacific coast after he spent three months adrift in his catamaran.
Timothy Shaddock left La Paz in Baja California Sur in early May headed for French Polynesia, a journey of approximately 4,500 miles. However, the electronics on his boat were damaged by a storm, making navigation impossible. Although stocked up on provisions, he said he had to eat raw fish and drink rainwater in order to survive.
Embarking this week in the port of Manzanillo, Shaddock told reporters of his gratitude to the captain and crew of the “María Delia,” part of the fleet of Grupomar, the Mexican company that produces the Tuny tuna brand.
“I thought I wasn’t going to make it, so thank you so much for finding me and rescuing me,” the Australian said.
Although he was suffering from dehydration and heat stroke, photos of Shaddock released by Grupomar showed the rescued sailor and his companion to be in good spirits.
Talking to Australian media, Shaddock praised his dog Bella for her “critical role” in his survival. “She is Mexican and her spirit is of this country … she’s a lot braver than I am, that’s for sure.”
Grupomar General Director Antonio Suárez said he was proud of his sailors for their “bravery and humanity in the successful rescue of Mr. Shaddock.”
Shaddock said he will return to Australia soon to see his family, and has no fear of returning to his sailing adventures.