‘Miracle’ rescue ends fisherman’s ordeal after falling overboard and fending off shark

CNN —

A fisherman who fell overboard and spent nearly 24 hours in cold, choppy waters — rousing a shark’s attention — was rescued off New Zealand’s coast Wednesday after using his watch reflection to signal for help.

Whangamatā Police Sergeant Will Hamilton said in a statement that the “absolute miracle” rescue unfolded after the unnamed angler had set off on a solo fishing trip aboard his 40-foot (12-meter) boat on Tuesday.

While trying to reel in a marlin, the fisherman fell into the sea about 30 nautical miles (55 kilometers) off New Zealand’s North Island, the statement said.

As his boat drifted out of reach, the fisherman attempted to swim to the nearby Alderman Islands but was dragged away by strong currents.

Too exhausted to keep swimming, he endured a cold night in the ocean, Hamilton said, adding that at one point a shark came to “have a sniff” before leaving.

“It is an absolute miracle the fisherman is still alive after the ordeal,” Hamilton said.

Incredibly, the angler was saved the following day when three fishermen noticed a reflection on the water and set out in their boat to investigate.

They discovered the stranded man desperately trying to catch their attention using the reflection of the sun from this watch, Hamilton said.

He was taken back to Whangamatā and treated for hypothermia and exhaustion.

“Without the quick actions of the three gentlemen that retrieved him, this certainly would have had a tragic outcome,” Hamilton said.

A “series of fortunate events” led to the incredible rescue after the three fishermen “sort of saw a glistening, probably 600 meters away” from their boat, rescuer James Mcdonnell told CNN affiliate Newshub.

They did not expect to find a person.

“I mean, we were 10