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BY CHARLES MCKEAGUE
ANCHOR CARISSA LOETHEN
A fisherman was rescued off the west coast of Australia after his boat capsized on Thursday.
He was naked and surrounded by sharks when he was finally pulled to safety. Here’s
the “Today Show” with a recap of what happened.
“He struggled to stay afloat as a massive hammerhead [shark] came close, begging for
the boat to rescue him. ... It's believed he was in the water treading for 24 hours.
One other fisherman was pulled from the water and died in the hospital. A third man is still
missing.”
Australia’s Channel 7 has the exclusive footage as its chopper hovered above and caught
the rescue. Here’s a clip.
“He’s slowing trying to breaststroke. He’s not even moving he can’t move. They’ve
just pulled him onto some stairs and he’s safe. Finally after all this he’s actually
safe.”
The 49-year-old man was so tired from treading, he could barely make it over the side of the
boat. And according to the Channel 7 reporter on the scene...
“… he saw the man ‘clasp his hands together like he was saying a prayer’. Taylor described
the rescue as ‘incredible’.”
The West Australian reports the rescued man suffered severe hypothermia. Rescue crews
said they will continue searching for the last man missing - overnight.