2023-07-22 00:41:13
The Australian castaway who survived three months in the Pacific Ocean and was rescued last Monday, made a drastic decision following being rescued: he gave Bella, the dog that accompanied him, up for adoption.
The survivor was identified as Timothy Shaddock, a 54-year-old Sydney resident. The sailor left Mexico with his pet for French Polynesia in April, but his catamaran broke down in a storm weeks later.
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“Bella is braver than me,” Shaddock said at a press conference hours following landing once more. The dog was his only company during the time she was shipwrecked, where they ate raw fish and drank rainwater.
However, despite the difficult situation they had to live, the man decided to give his pet to one of the rescuers who became most fond of it and who was in charge of taking care of it and curing it.
Tim Shaddock with su perra, Bella. (Photo: courtesy 9 News).
“Bella had a wound in her armpit and together with a partner we gave her healing. He (Shaddock) saw me, and immediately asked me if I liked dogs,” Rosales told Milenio, in an interview reproduced by El País in Spain.
After that, he revealed that he agreed to adopt the animal “with a Mexican spirit” and told how his state of health is. “He has a tic disorder due to stress in his leg. When he falls asleep, he jumps his little leg.
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It is that the castaway, in his statements, described her that way: “She is Mexican, she has the spirit of this country. She is a beautiful animal and I am thankful that she survived.”
Shaddock was traveling with his dog Bella. (Photo: AP/Grupomar).
Rosales, for her part, pointed out that the dog “had already suffered a lot” and said that in a talk she had with Shaddock, he told her that he would return to his country at some point and he no longer wants to take Bella on another journey. “Not because she doesn’t love her, on the contrary, because she wants her to have a place where she can already be calm,” said the rescuer.
There were other crew members who had already expressed their desire to give Bella a roof over their heads, but the Australian chose Rosales for the love he showed him and even for his dedication when treating her.
How was the shipwreck of Timothy Shaddock
According to the castaway himself, Shaddock left from the coastal area of the municipality of La Paz, in the state of Baja California Sur, with the aim of reaching French Polynesia, a journey of nearly 6,000 kilometers across the high seas.
However, a strong storm damaged his boat, as well as the electronic equipment he had on board to communicate with the coast or other boats.
Professor Mike Tipton, an ocean survival expert, told 9News that Shaddock’s case is a “combination of luck and skill.”
Tim Shaddock with Captain Oscar Meza Oregon and other crew members of the fishing boat. (Photo: Twitter/Grupomar).
“You have to take into account how small the ship is and how big the Pacific is. The chances of anyone being found are pretty slim. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack,” she said.
The expert also highlighted that having Bella on board “might have made a difference” and helped him “maintain a very positive attitude” and “not give up.”
According to Grupomar, the Mexican tuna vessel was more than 1,200 miles from land when they spotted Shaddock.
After rescuing him, they notified the Mexican authorities so that he can be treated upon reaching the Mexican Pacific coast. Now it remains to do more medical tests on the castaway and complete a series of procedures so that he can return home safely with his dog.
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