David Simpson, 64, was thrown from his boat when a strong wave hit the ship near Caloundra on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, CNN affiliate 9News reported.
He watched as his boat – with his dog on board – floated, then managed to swim about half a mile to a water lighthouse, where he waited to be pushed up by a wave to cling to the lighthouse ladder. . .
The man was discovered on a lighthouse at sea.
From the Caloundra Volunteer Coast Guard – QF4 / Facebook
“The wave hit the side of the boat and I tried to secure the boat that had drifted a bit and a rope broke while holding the boat,” Simpson told 9News. “The boat hit me … and I fell about 2.5 or 3 meters off the coast and off the boat.”
Another sailor later discovered the unmanned ship with the engine still running and the dog on board and alerted authorities.
Simpson said he tried to get attention in any way he could and even took off his shorts to flutter them. “Maybe that’s why no one stopped, because I was naked,” he said.
Three hours after the alarm went off, Simpson was found by a helicopter, which saw him in the dark, 1.6 miles from his ship.
“He is a very lucky man to be able to reach that lighthouse,” Mooloolaba Coast Guard commander Ian Hunt told 9News.
Dog Mitch was rescued by Surf Lifesaving Queensland.
From Surf Life Saving Queensland / Twitter
Coast Guard Mooloolaba said on Wednesday that attempts were being made to recover the now grounded ship.