Sydney, Nov 9
A sailor who fell from a cargo ship off Australia's eastern coast near Sydney has been found alive after almost 24 hours of being stranded at sea.
The man went overboard from the Singapore-based bulk carrier Double Delight 8 km off the coast of Newcastle, a harbour city north of Sydney, at about 11:30 p.m. local time on Thursday night.
Authorities confirmed on Saturday that he was rescued by a recreational fisherman who spotted him from a boat near the coast at 6:20 p.m. on Friday, news agency reported.
The ambulance service in the state of New South Wales (NSW) said that paramedics were called to a beach in Swansea, a neighbouring town south of Newcastle, on Friday night following reports a man was found in the water.
"The patient, a man in his 20s, reportedly was in the water for about 24 hours. He was wearing a life jacket, he was conscious, he was able to communicate with us, but he was very cold and absolutely exhausted," a spokeswoman told.