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'Thought I was going to die': The ordinary act which saw fisherman stranded for hours


A fisherman who fell overboard and survived more than three hours bobbing in choppy waters off the South Australian coast says a call of nature nearly cost him his life.

Clayton Booth’s boat took off without him, leaving him stranded 6km from the shore off Brighton.

“I needed a wee, so I pulled up to have a wee. I didn’t realise I still had the boat in gear, I normally put it in neutral,” Mr Booth told 7News.

Clayton Booth survived more than three hours in choppy waters off the South Australian coast after pulling up to ‘wee’, but the relief almost cost him his life. Source: 7 News
Clayton Booth survived more than three hours in choppy waters off the South Australian coast after pulling up to ‘wee’, but the relief almost cost him his life. Source: 7 News

“A wave comes sideways, knocks the boat the opposite direction, I fell out.”

The fisherman’s boat took off without him, but with all his belongings onboard.

Stranded, Mr Booth decided he had no choice but to swim to shore.

“I gave up a couple of times as well. Thought I was going to die and sort of gave up, but sort of had the will to keep pushing on,” he said.

Brighton Surf Life Saver Katrina Meehan and her teammates were training in a surfboat and heard Mr Booth’s calls for help.

He was rescued after three-and-a-half hours in the cold, choppy water.

The fisherman’s boat took off without him, leaving the man stranded 6km from the shore. Source: 7 News
The fisherman’s boat took off without him, leaving the man stranded 6km from the shore. Source: 7 News

“It took three of us to pull him into the boat – and these boats are really quite tippy, so one girl had to balance us and the other three were hauling him in,” Ms Meehan said.

Incredibly, Mr Booth managed to survive even though he was not wearing a life jacket.

Now it is something he says he will ensure he always puts on every time he goes fishing.

He urged others to learn from his mistake, advising boaties: “Always wear a life jacket if you’re by yourself. Make sure you’ve got all the safety equipment.”

Luckily Mr Booth found his boat the following day.

Brighton Surf Life Saver Katrina Meehan and her teammates were training in a surfboat and heard his calls for help, and came to the rescue. Source: 7 News
Brighton Surf Life Saver Katrina Meehan and her teammates were training in a surfboat and heard his calls for help, and came to the rescue. Source: 7 News

“I had the Find My iPhone app, so I got my iPad out in the morning and logged in. And there it was in the middle of the ocean, 30ks out.”

A kind couple, who Mr Booth hoped to meet again and thank, volunteered to help him tow his much-loved vessel back to shore.

“You can have a really good day and things can turn pear-shaped just like that,” he said.

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