Swansea doctor rescues overboard crew member after 24 hours at sea

In a story of incredible survival, a Swansea doctor pulled a Vietnamese man from the ocean 24 hours after he fell from a cargo ship, with officials now investigating if he intentionally jumped to enter the country.

For 24 hours, a Vietnamese national swam 8km through open waters off the coast of Newcastle, battling the pitch black night, cool temperatures and the threat of drowning, with investigations now focused on whether the young man jumped from a cargo ship.

A major rescue operation was launched in the early hours of Friday morning, after the man, aged in his 20s, fell from a bulk carrier vessel known as the Double Delight, around 11.30pm that night.

Marine Rescue NSW, a defence chopper and the Westpac team spent hours methodically searching for the man after he was reported missing from the vessel – but it was Swansea doctor Glen Valaire who came across the exhausted crew member almost six kilometres off Blacksmiths Beach.

As he and his mate Lee Pitt fished off the coast around 6.30pm on Friday night, they saw an arm raise up out of the water, in what Mr Valaire described as a “final act of strength”.

The Vietnamese national on-board Glen Valaire’s fishing boat. Picture: Supplied

The man floating in the water when Mr Valaire and his mate found him. Picture: Supplied

“He only had on shorts and a T-shirt and all of his personal belongings in a plastic bag … it became obvious he had tried to jump (ship) and swim to shore,” Mr Valaire said.

Inside the plastic bag slung over his arm was a wallet, his ID and a pack of cigarettes.

Mr Valaire pulled him onto his fishing boat, bundled the man up in blankets, and asked if he could speak English. While he said yes – he kept quiet as Mr Valaire ferried him back to shore.

“His mouth was so dry and he was so exhausted, I thought he was being a bit sheepish about his situation (when we tried to talk to him) but he was just so exhausted,” Mr Valaire said.

Glen Valaire found the man floating 6km off the coast. Picture: Adam Yip

The Swansea doctor said he was surprised the man didn’t come into contact with a great white – which he said were known to prowl the waters off the coast.

“They say they are endangered but I can assure you they’re not,” he told the Telegraph.

“There are so many great whites … he was very pale and I was worried he had been injured but thankfully he was in one piece and OK and I hope he’s doing well.”

The Vietnamese man was suffering from hypothermia, having spent a long 24 hours in waters that fluctuated between 18 and 22 degrees.

Marine Rescue NSW Newcastle vessel master Jason Richards, who spent hours at sea leading the search, said it was “remarkable” the Vietnamese national was alive.

Australian Border Force officials at John Hunter Hospital. Picture: Adam Yip

“Police water vessels and Lake Macquarie marine vessels arrived and a multi-agency search began with helicopters and an AMSA Challenger jet (searching for the man) from Newcastle down to Red Head about eight nautical miles offshore,” Mr Richards said.

“We are very happy and very relieved that he was found alive … it certainly is remarkable that he survived in the water for that amount of time.”

Australian Border Force officials are now investigating whether the man jumped overboard from the Double Delight in the hopes of sneaking into Australia.

Officials were seen arriving at John Hunter Hospital to speak to the man, and later, with a suitcase and backpack full of his belongings.

The Double Delight, which left Japan in mid-October – has now docked in Newcastle, while the man remains in hospital.