Man's shiny survival: Overboard fisherman rescued after signaling shore with his watch
Will Fransen, a 61-year-old resident of Cambridge, embarked on a solitary voyage, detouring 30 nautical miles (approximately 34 miles) from the North Island in New Zealand. He was sailing in a 12-meter (39-foot) boat, fishing for marlin, and he managed to hook one.
6:13 AM EST, January 4, 2024
However, the fish proved too strong in this duel. Fransen fell into the water but remained calm. When he lost sight of the boat, he tried swimming towards the nearby Alderman Islands, but strong currents thwarted his efforts.
As reported by CNN, Will Hamilton, a police sergeant in Whangamatā, described the incident as an "absolute miracle".
According to Hamilton, Fransen was too exhausted to continue swimming and could only stay afloat. He survived a night in the ocean, conscious that his life was hanging by a thread, especially since a shark had appeared nearby at one point.
Miracle saved New Zealand fisherman thanks to his watch
The resilience of the human spirit prevailed, and the swimmer was rescued. His deliverance came when a boat with three sailors appeared. In a desperate act, Fransen used his watch and a ray of sunlight to reflect light on the water to draw the attention of his future rescuers.
"The three fishermen spotted a shiny object, probably 600 meters (656 yards) from their boat," said rescuer James Mcdonnell. They sailed closer to investigate the glint. That's when they noticed someone in the water desperately waving his arms.
Sergeant Hamilton reported that a rescued Fransen was taken to Whangamatā and handed over to rescuers. "Without the quick actions of these three men, there would surely have been a tragic outcome," the officer said.
The fishermen had a large thermal bag on the boat, which they wrapped around the hypothermic man and their clothes. This action might have saved him from dying of hypothermia.
Authorities are now searching for the lost fishing boat. "We may not find it, but most importantly, the man survived. And he still has his watch," Hamilton remarked.
