David Simpson, 64, was launched from his boat when a strong wave hit the ship near Caloundra on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, CNN affiliate 9News reported.
He watched his boat – with his dog on board – float away and then managed to swim about half a mile to a water lighthouse, where he waited to be pushed by a wave to grab the lighthouse’s ladder.
The man was discovered at a lighthouse at sea.
From the Caloundra Voluntary Coast Guard – QF4 / Facebook
“The wave hit the side of the boat and I was trying to catch the boat that had been a little adrift and a rope broke while holding the boat,” Simpson told 9News. “The boat hit me … and I fell about 2.5, 3 meters in the ribs and out of the boat.”
Another sailor later discovered the unmanned vessel with the engine still running and the dog on board, and alerted authorities.
Simpson said he tried to get attention in every way he could and even took off his shorts to show them off. “Maybe that’s why nobody stopped, because I was naked,” he said.
Three hours after the alarm went off, Simpson was found by a helicopter, which spotted him in the dark 2.5 km from his vessel.
“He is a very lucky man to be able to reach that lighthouse,” Ian Hunt, commander of the Mooloolaba coast guard, told 9News.
Mitch was rescued by Surf Lifesaving Queensland.
Do Surf Life Saving Queensland / Twitter
Mooloolaba’s coast guard said on Wednesday that attempts to recover the now stranded vessel are underway.