A Vietnamese man, who had spent nearly 24 hours floating in the sea after falling off a cargo ship, was rescued by two Australian fishermen off the coast of Newcastle on Friday evening.
The man, a crew member aboard the Singaporean-flagged cargo ship Double Delight, was reported missing at 11:30 PM on Thursday, sparking a large-scale search operation.
The search, which involved helicopters and boats, was unsuccessful until the man was spotted around 6:20 PM on Friday, about 8 kilometres from where he fell overboard, near Blacksmiths Beach. The fishermen, who were on a recreational fishing trip, saw him waving his hands in the water. One of the fishermen, Dr Glen Valaire, described the moment as an “absolute miracle.”
“He was so fatigued he had to lie down in the back of the boat. He was freezing cold, had a weak pulse, and was extremely pale,” Dr Valaire said. “We were really concerned for him.”
After pulling the man aboard their boat, the fishermen wrapped him in blankets, gave him water, and called emergency services. NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived soon after at Boatrowers Reserve, where the man, in his 20s, was treated for suspected hypothermia and dehydration.
A spokesperson from NSW Ambulance confirmed that the man, who was wearing a lifejacket, was conscious and able to communicate despite his exhaustion. “He was very cold and absolutely exhausted,” the spokesperson said.
The man was then transported to John Hunter Hospital, where he was reported to be in a serious but stable condition. He was carrying a plastic bag containing his ID, a wallet, and a packet of cigarettes.
The rescue came after a challenging search effort. Authorities had been alerted to the missing crew member’s disappearance early on Thursday. Despite deploying two helicopters and two boats, the initial search yielded no results. The rescue by the two fishermen, who had no idea the search was underway, came as a stroke of luck.
The NSW Police have now referred the matter to the Australian Border Force, which is investigating the incident. The man’s ordeal highlights the dangers of life at sea, and the remarkable efforts of the fishermen who played a pivotal role in saving his life.
