In a gripping tale of survival, a New Zealand fisherman, Will Fransen, narrowly escaped death after spending more than 23 hours adrift in the open ocean. Fransen's incredible journey unfolded off the shores of Whangamatā and the Coromandel Peninsula, south of Auckland.
Setting out on a solo fishing expedition on Tuesday, the 61-year-old from Cambridge, N.Z., planned to return the next day on his 12-meter boat. However, his fishing adventure took a perilous turn when he was unexpectedly pulled overboard by what he suspects was a marlin on his line. As he struggled in the water, his boat idly drifted away, leaving him stranded some 30 nautical miles from New Zealand's North Island.
Facing the relentless current, Fransen found himself unable to swim back to the nearby Alderman Islands. With no life jacket, he resorted to treading water, wearing only his clothes and a semi-buoyant harness. Shouting for help yielded no response, and his situation grew more dire as time passed.
In a moment of sheer determination, Fransen spotted a shark nearby, but luck was on his side as the creature lost interest and swam away. As the night fell, battling frigid ocean waters, he clung to hope and his will to survive.
Against the odds, the current eventually guided Fransen toward Mayor Island, also known as Tūhua. His ordeal took an unexpected turn when, in the distance, he spotted another boat. Resourceful and desperate for rescue, he used the reflection of sunlight off his wristwatch as a beacon.
Three men aboard the fishing vessel noticed the unusual signal and approached, discovering Fransen shivering in the water. With a stroke of luck, the fisherman was pulled onboard, and the rescuers swiftly worked to raise his body temperature, offering warm bottles of water and cranberry juice.
Will Fransen's harrowing experience serves as a testament to the unpredictable challenges faced by seafarers and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
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