Australian Timothy Lyndsay Shaddock and his dog “Bella” have been rescued by a Mexican tuna ship in recent days after being shipwrecked for three months.

“I thought I wouldn’t survive, so thank you very much,” the 54-year-old Australian told the media after getting off the boat “María Delia”, owned by the Mexican company that packs tuna “Tuny”.

The man was located after his catamaran broke down.

“I am grateful, I am alive (…). I just want to take it easy,” Shaddock told the press after disembarking the ship in Manzanillo (west) port. “What to say to the captain and the company that saved my life? I am very grateful.”

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Shaddock came out of the boat with a full beard and a cap with the logo of the tuna company.

From the port of Manzanillo, in Colima, Shaddok stressed that the journey was “difficult” with “terrible health”.

He also admitted that he thought he would die in the event of a hurricane.

“We were very hungry, I didn’t think we would make it,” he insisted.

Shaddock and Bella left the Baja California Peninsula last April.

During the Days of Distress, Shaddock said he found a way to carry on within himself.

“The fatigue is the hardest part. You are always solving something and I tried to find joy in myself. I found her alone in the sea,” he said.

The man also said his dog is “incredible”. She explained that she found the animal in Mexico and followed it despite trying three times to find a home for it.

“It’s an incredible animal, I’m thankful it’s alive, it’s much braver than me,” he explained. The dog remained on board the tuna boat, according to a journalist from the AFP.