Shock past of Aussie sailor in miracle rescue

A Sydney man rescued in the Pacific Ocean after miraculously surviving months adrift had a previous brush with death.

The Aussie sailor rescued in the Pacific Ocean after miraculously surviving months adrift is a Sydney raw food proponent who previously claimed to have beat bowel cancer by adopting holistic treatments.

Sydney man Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella were picked up by a tuna trawler off the coast of Mexico, after being spotted by a helicopter accompanying the ship.

Tim Shaddock was rescued in the Pacific Ocean. Picture: Nine News

Their rescue came two months after their ship was damaged in a storm during a journey from Mexico to French Polynesia.

It is not Mr Shaddock’s first brush with mortality.

In 2013, he told The Raw Kitchen n blog that he had opted for “a holistic approach to healing instead of going down the conventional road of treatment” after being diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer.

Sydney man Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella were picked up by a tuna trawler. Picture: Nine News

Tim Shaddock survived months adrift in the Pacific Ocean. Picture: Nine News

Mr Shaddock told the blog that raw food, natural movements, fasting, juicing and smoothies had helped him wage his war on cancer.

“The concept of becoming ‘fully raw’ as I’ve heard being thrown around ... did not become a reality to me until I was at the critical stage of my cancer diagnosis,” he said.

Nine News obtained footage of the rescue, which shows Mr Shaddock explaining he only had “fishing gear, survival gear” aboard the catamaran.

Once on board the trawler, he told of his “very difficult ordeal at sea”.

“I‘m just needing rest and good food because I have been alone at sea a long time,” he said.

“I have not had food, enough food for a long time.”

It is understood he avoided sunburn by hiding under a canopy on the catamaran.

Originally published as Shock past of Aussie sailor in miracle rescue