When a fisherman from New Zealand attempted to reel in a marlin off the Coromandel Peninsula, he fell overboard, beginning an arduous 24-hour battle for survival.
The man lost his footing on Tuesday, which set off an arduous day-long struggle against the weather.
On January 2, the fisherman went out on his 40-foot boat from Whangamatā and ended up overboard around 55 kilometers off the North Island, close to the Alderman Islands. He tried desperately to keep afloat, but the boat slipped away from him.
Nightfall brought a grave situation. Strong currents prevented the fisherman from swimming near the Alderman Islands.
A St John ambulance crew was waiting to provide immediate medical assistance to the rescued man, who was very exhausted and hypothermic. He was quite appreciative of his rescuers and the emergency services for their quick action.
Even though the fisherman was able to safely return home, there is still a sense of mystery regarding what happened to his boat and where it is. In order to prevent potential dangers, boaters are urged to report any sightings of unmanned vessels to the Rescue Coordination Centre, which has been informed.
Hamilton praised the rescuers’ alertness and pointed out that not many tales had such a happy ending.
