Miracle as crew member who fell off a cargo ship is found alive on an Australian beach after marathon swim
A sailor who fell overboard and disappeared off the NSW coast, sparking an urgent search, has been found alive after swimming more than 8km to shore.
The crew member fell from the bulk carrier Double Delight, located off Newcastle, at around 11.30pm on Thursday and swam throughout Thursday night and Friday.
Paramedics were called to Boatrowers Reserve on Blacksmith Beach in Swansea about 6.30pm on Friday to treat a man who had been in the water for 24 hours, a NSW Ambulance spokesperson confirmed to Daily Mail Australia.
The man suffered from hypothermia and was taken to John Hunter Hospital.
Earlier on Friday, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) was notified by the Newcastle Harbor Master that a crew member from the Singapore-based vessel had gone overboard.
At the time the ship was moored off the coast approximately 5 miles southeast of Newcastle.
The AMSA had coordinated the search and deployed a Westpac Rescue helicopter from Williamtown and a defense helicopter from Belmont near Newcastle to search the water.
Newcastle-based NSW Water Police, Marine Rescue NSW units and a Port Stephens-based Water Police vessel were also called in to assist.
The crew member was on board the freighter Double Delight but had not been seen for almost 24 hours before he was found on the sands near Swansea.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority coordinated the search off the coast of Newcastle
A spokesperson for Marine Rescue NSW previously said the two volunteer crewed vessels were searching for most of the day on Friday.
“At this time they are still on the water, they will remain on the water until instructed otherwise by Marine Area Command,” the spokesperson said.
The Double Delight is a bulk carrier that left the Japanese coast on October 19.
More to follow.
The crew member had not been seen since late Thursday evening after falling from the cargo ship (photo)
Helicopters were deployed in the search which saw the man found hypothermic on a beach in Swansea and taken to John Hunter Hospital