Australian Fisherman Survives Eight Hours In Shark-Infested Waters Without Life Jacket

An Australian fisherman has survived a chilling overboard ordeal after he was knocked off his boat by a rogue wave into shark-infested waters without a life jacket.

As Nine News is reporting, Andrew Wilson was thrown overboard while his boat's engine was still running, leaving the 25-year-old angler stranded without any safety devices. He was then forced to make the 4.7-mile swim to shore through strong currents, and has claimed he bumped into a shark and was knocked against rocks throughout his eight-hour ordeal, which is now being hailed as a miracle.

Wilson, a native of Tweed Heads, said he made it back to shore through a combination of "adrenalin and just sheer determination," and thought often of his fiancee and food. "I was starving, so I was looking forward to getting home and having a feed," he said. "I thought I'd be able to stop and be able to float and get some energy back, but if I stopped for 30 seconds it would take me straight back out to sea...there was only going to be one outcome. I wasn't going to stop, so I just kept going."

According to the Telegraph, authorities realized the fisherman was missing when someone spotted his unmanned boat with the engine still running off Fingal Beach on the coast of northern New South Wales. Though a major air and sea search was launched, there was no sign of the man until he managed to make it to land, clamber over rocks and knock on a stranger's door for help. The Associated Press is reporting that Wilson has since been treated at a hospital and released.

Comments

[OhManOhMan]

12:29 AM on 02/19/2011

"He was then forced to make the 4.7-mile swim to shore through strong currents, and has claimed he bumped into a shark and was knocked against rocks throughout his eight-hour ordeal"

bumped into a shark?

BUMPED??

I doubt that's a shark

[lcelidon]

10:22 PM on 02/18/2011

man....change job...the fish is not worth it.......

[Prousa]

03:18 PM on 02/17/2011

The guy looks like a shark to me.

[bmora]

10:56 AM on 02/17/2011

An 8 hour walk is harder than an 8 hour swim. No big deal.

[MsVella]

11:22 AM on 02/17/2011

Lol not really.

[bmora]

12:10 PM on 02/17/2011

I take it you have done neither.

[Claudia Babic]

10:06 PM on 02/17/2011

Sure, an 8 hour walk but among hungry lions, a killer sun and winds over 120 miles/h. Because that's probably how this guy felt while doing his little"no big deal" swim in shark infested waters, and strong underwater currents.

[stuoverit]

12:28 PM on 02/18/2011

Indeed. This lame commentator sits on his computer saying that 8 hours at sea w/ sharks is easier than walking for 8 hours?

[ViktorN]

09:12 AM on 02/17/2011

That guy is officially a bad*ss.

[Soulsurfer]

09:07 AM on 02/17/2011

Good on ya, mate.

[NanaMex]

04:32 AM on 02/17/2011

Thanks, people, for the sensitivity here. The man did the near impossible and all you can do is make very insulting jokes? As an Australian I am insulted, as an American I am ashamed.

[sprootles]

09:57 AM on 02/17/2011

They just can't help themselves. I personally feel the bloke is amazing! I actually hope to see an interview with him discussing his attitude throughout and his determination. That always fascinates me in these situations.

[MsVella]

11:23 AM on 02/17/2011

Honey its a blog. We're not actually speaking to the guy or laughing in his face.

[occa173]

12:46 PM on 02/17/2011

Its not what we say to others, but what we harbor in our minds that matters more.
Sadly, the blogs show the true face of any community. People do not feel the need to hold back and end up writing what they truly believe.

[j0em0mma]

01:00 AM on 02/17/2011

Y'all do know that the assault on lawyers was intended to undermine the rule of law to the benefit of the powerful wealthy and well connected, right? That is all...

[wwoody]

10:47 PM on 02/16/2011

He was at home with the sharks,only because was a a license attorney .

[wwoody]

10:00 PM on 02/16/2011

Sharks and this gentleman is from the same bloodline.

[wwoody]

09:57 PM on 02/16/2011

He must be a very terrible an insensitive person, the sharks threw him back.

[REDSTATEREFUGEE]

10:32 PM on 02/16/2011

....Maybe he is a licensed attorney?

[wwoody]

10:46 PM on 02/16/2011

You're right the sharks don't eat their own kind, a license attorney .

[sushigirl]

07:37 PM on 02/16/2011

Hooray, he's ok. This is one lucky man.

[llabesab1234]

07:32 PM on 02/16/2011

What Law Firm did the Sharks represent?

[Memelogic]

08:18 PM on 02/16/2011

Lawyers are nothing like sharks. Sharks are ancient, beautiful creatures of the deep.

And another thing, if the water had been "infested" with Dolphins and he was bumped by a Dolphin people would be hailing the friendly sea-creatures for guiding him to safety. End anti-sharkitism.

[MsVella]

11:24 AM on 02/17/2011

Why beautiful though? Its just one other organism living in this world.Sharks are impressive and powerful, but from a human point of view I couldn't really call then beautiful.

[eric14]

06:57 PM on 02/16/2011

It's never the nice waves that knock Aussies out of their boats. It's always these rogue waves.