An Australian sailor and his dog survived two months alone at sea, after a storm left them stranded in the Pacific Ocean.
Tim Shaddock and his dog, Bella, were rescued from their yacht on Thursday by a Mexican fishing boat.
The pair set off in April from Mexico, on a 6,000km journey to French Polynesia. During their voyage, a storm erupted and damaged their yacht.
The boat's electronics were knocked out by the storm, so Tim and Bella were left adrift in the North Pacific.
To stay alive, they ate raw fish and drank rainwater. They hid under the boat's canopy to avoid sunburn.
Two months later, they were found off the coast of Mexico by a helicopter that was flying with a fishing boat.
When he was found, Tim was wearing two hats to shield himself from the sun. He had grown a big, bushy beard. People say he looked like Tom Hanks in the film Castaway.
The sailor's doctor said Tim did not have any major injuries. Bella was also in good health.
"I have been through a very difficult ordeal at sea," Tim told reporters. "I'm just needing rest and good food because I have been alone at sea for a long time."
"To the captain and fishing boat that saved my life, I'm just so grateful. I'm alive and I didn't really think I'd make it."
Another sailor, Elvis Francois, survived more than 20 days in the Caribbean Sea by eating ketchup and seasonings. He had been repairing his boat when ocean currents pushed him far away from shore.
Tim says he will be returning to Australia soon, and he's looking forward to seeing his family.
Will he dare to sail on the ocean again? He probably will.
"I very much enjoy sailing and I love the people of the sea," he says.
Five things to know about
The Pacific Ocean
1. The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest ocean. It covers more than a third of our planet's surface!
2. This ocean covers nearly half of the Earth's water surface area. It stretches from Asia and Australia to the Americas, and from the North Pole to the South Pole.
3. The Pacific Ocean is also the deepest ocean, with the deepest trenches. Its deepest point is 11,022 metres below the surface. The deepest part is called the Challenger Deep.
4. There are about 25,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean.
5. The Pacific Ocean is home to the Great Barrier Reef. This is the world's biggest living structure. Located off the coast of Australia, it is the world's biggest coral reef system.
