Sailor and Dog Rescued After 3 Months At Sea

The Daily Mail reports on the discovery and rescue of Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella off the coast of Mexico after being lost at sea for 3 months. The pair survived off of rain water and tuna which they caught.

    Mr Shaddock and his dog Bella had departed from La Pez, along the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico, in April on an over 6,000km solo voyage across the Pacific Ocean to French Polynesia three months ago.

    However, just two weeks into his voyage a storm destroyed electronics on his boat, leaving the pair without communication to the outside world or a way to navigate the open ocean.

    The sailor was lucky to have brought fishing and survival equipment along for the trip, which provided both him and Bella enough of an opportunity to survive the ordeal.

    Mike Tipton, Professor of Human and Applied Physiology at the University of Portsmouth, told 9News Mr Shaddock's survival was a mix of 'luck and skill'.

    He said that while the sailor had to be lucky for rainfall to refill stocks of water, his knowledge to create shade during the day to stave off heat stroke and strict rationing rules increased his chances of survival.

    The professor said that having companionship on board with Bella would have 'helped him a tremendous amount' to stave off isolation.

    Bella was seen wagging her tail at the camera crew who filmed the sailor's catamaran littered with buckets and equipment.

I don't think "luck" was responsible for his bringing the fishing gear and survival equipment. He should have brought a solar still or two for getting clean water, although they are a bit pricey at nearly $300 per.