A man’s harrowing 23.5-hour ordeal in the waters off Whangamatā, New Zealand during a solo fishing trip ended miraculously when three fishermen spotted him signaling for help.
Departing on January 2, his intended return the next day turned into a fight for survival. Falling overboard while attempting to reel in a suspected marlin near the Alderman Islands, he couldn’t reach his drifting vessel.
Despite efforts to swim to safety, he succumbed to ocean currents, enduring a frigid night and encountering a shark. His rescue came when the fishermen, noticing a peculiar glint on the water near Mayor Island, investigated and found him using his watch to reflect sunlight for attention.
Hypothermic and fatigued, the man was swiftly treated upon reaching land. Grateful, he penned a note lauding the rescuers and emergency teams. His boat’s whereabouts remain unknown, with authorities alerted for potential navigation hazards.
