Fisherman survives marathon swim

An Australian fisherman swam for six hours to reach shore after a rogue wave knocked him out of his boat.

Andrew Wilson, 25, said today that he survived on “adrenaline” and “sheer determination.”

He was alone and not wearing a life jacket when the wave sent him over the side of his boat yesterday off the Gold Coast, south of the Queensland state capital, Brisbane.

The engine was still running and he watched helplessly as the boat powered away from him.

Police launched an air and sea search after the empty boat was spotted.

But Mr Wilson turned up ashore after swimming almost five miles, clambering over rocks and knocking on a stranger’s door for help.

He was treated in hospital for cuts and exposure, then released.

He said he realised as soon as he was in the water that he was going to have to swim for it.

Strong currents pulling him away from shore meant he could not rest even for a short time.

“I thought I’d be able to stop and be able to float and get some energy back, but if I stopped for 30 seconds it would take me straight back out to sea,” he said.

“There was only going to be one outcome – I wasn’t going to stop, so I just kept going,” he said. “Adrenaline and just sheer determination.”