A New Zealand man miraculously survived after more than 24 hours in shark-infested waters, thanks to his survival skills before being rescued.
Will Fransen, 61, lost his balance and fell overboard while fishing for kingfish alone off the coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand, on January 2. He grabbed the fishing line caught on the boat’s railing and attempted to pull himself back to the boat, but was unsuccessful.
Mr. Will Fransen – (Photo: NEW ZEALAND HERALD).
At the time of the incident, Mr. Fransen was not wearing a life jacket. Fortunately, his belt was buoyant.
After the boat drifted away, Mr. Fransen fell into despair. He repeatedly waved his hat and shouted for help to nearby boats, but no one saw or heard him.
“I gave up, relaxed my body, and admired the beautiful sunset above me,” he recalled.
Mr. Fransen saw shark fins protruding from the water multiple times, estimating them to be several meters long. “Fortunately, it decided to ignore me. A fish that long could easily have dealt with me,” he shared.
Previously, local media had warned that these waters are teeming with sharks. Even the New Zealand Herald reported sightings of great white sharks – the largest predatory fish in the world.
Mr. Fransen did everything he could to keep his head above water and also pinched his nose and kept his mouth tightly shut whenever waves crashed over him to avoid swallowing seawater. According to scientists, ingesting seawater can rapidly increase salt levels in the human body, leading to arrhythmia, strokes, and even death.
As night fell, Mr. Fransen began to reflect on his family, friends, and his previous life. He also tried to wring water from his belt in hopes it would help keep his body afloat.
Drifting several kilometers south near Mayor Island, Mr. Fransen endured a night in harsh weather and freezing seawater.
Max White, James McDonnell, and Tyler Taffs (from left to right) are the ones who rescued Mr. Fransen – (Photo: NEW ZEALAND HERALD)
The next morning, he spotted three young men fishing on a boat and tried to signal for help. Mr. Fransen used the glass face of his wristwatch to reflect sunlight towards the boat.
James McDonnell, Max White, and Tyler Taffs noticed the stranded man and rushed to his rescue. They pulled Mr. Fransen aboard, warmed him up, and provided food.
The New Zealand police stated that Mr. Fransen survived due to his excellent survival skills and the timely help of the three men mentioned above. They also warned the public to be cautious when going out to sea.
