Australian saved after almost 24 hours floating in shark-infested waters - New York Post

A antheral spent astir 24 hours clinging to a portion of wood successful shark- and crocodile-infested waters disconnected Australia aft his tiny dinghy capsized — with cops calling his rescue a “Christmas miracle.”

The unidentified 31-year-old was winched to information aft aerial rescue teams yet spotted him floating successful the Torres Strait Wednesday greeting — with photos showing him gripping onto a quadrate of wood half his size without a lifejacket oregon immoderate different information equipment.

“It’s incredible. It’s 1 successful a million,” Senior Sergeant Anthony Moynihan told Australian broadcaster ABC.

An unidentified antheral spent astir 24 hours clinging to a portion of wood disconnected of the Australian coast. Australian Maritime Safety Authority

The man’s tiny dinghy capsized. Australian Maritime Safety Authority

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“To beryllium floating successful that h2o and knowing the creatures that are successful determination and to inactive beryllium determination immoderate 20 hours aboriginal — he’s an highly fortunate fella.”

The antheral near Moa Island — located successful the strait betwixt Australia and Papua New Guinea — successful his tiny dinghy astatine astir 9:30 a.m. Tuesday for the astir 40-mile travel to Warraber Islet, the outlet said.

Until astir 11 a.m., helium had been successful interaction with his household — who past reported him missing astatine 6 p.m. aft helium failed to scope his destination oregon get backmost successful touch.

The rescued antheral was “in truly bully spirits.”Australian Maritime Safety Authority

The archetypal nighttime hunt had to beryllium called off, earlier resuming Wednesday greeting — erstwhile his dinghy was archetypal spotted astatine astir 11:30 a.m., the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said.

He was past spotted conscionable implicit a mile distant clinging to the flotsam, the officials said.

“He’s successful truly bully spirits and not suffering from immoderate superior conditions,” Senior Sergeant Moynihan said — portion utilizing it arsenic a connection to archer h2o users to “enjoy yourselves but conscionable marque definite you get capable information equipment.”