Japanese tourist adrift on surfboard for 16 hours rescued off beach

MANILA, Philippines – A Japanese tourist was rescued Friday morning, January 13, after he spent the night on his surfboard 6 kilometers off the coast from Bulli Beach near Wollongong, a city in New South Wales, Australia.

ABC reported that the 37-year-old man got into trouble with a current on Thursday afternoon, January 12, and could not paddle his way back to shore because the waves were too big.

Crewmen of the 300-meter long container ship MSC Damla rescued him on Friday morning, and gave him food, dry clothes, and blankets. They also contacted authorities after the rescue, and a boat was sent to retrieve the Japanese tourist.

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted the police as saying the man seemed unfazed even after what happened.

“He’s out there on a surfboard, adrift, at night time. The risk would be hypothermia from exposure to the elements, and drowning, should he have become separated from the board,” said Sergeant Sean Netting of the Port Kembla Water Police, as quoted by the Herald.

He added: “Most people that get themselves in that situation die. He’s just so lucky that someone on ship spotted him.”

The Herald reported that prior to his rescue, there were no search efforts to locate the tourist because he drifted off alone, and no one notified authorities that he was missing. 

While the tourist had no health issues even after drifting overnight, he was still brought by ambulance to Wollongong Hospital “as a precaution.”

He was released from the hospital on Friday afternoon. – Rappler.com