A 47-year-old fisherman whose boat sank off the coast of Alaska managed to survive for 10 hours in the icy waters before being rescued this weekend.

Alan Ryden said that after a large gust of wind knocked his boat on its side, allowing water to fill the doomed vessel, he was forced to tread water alone for 10 hours, the Anchorage Daily News reported Sunday.

Staying afloat with the help of a small personal flotation device, Ryden said he was determined to stay alive. When another fishing vessel found him early Saturday, he said he barely had the strength to reach his would-be rescuers.

"I didn't have a lot of strength left," he said. "I was concerned when I saw them coming up with the life ring. I thought, 'I can't even hang on to a life ring by now.' But the adrenaline kicked in."

Altogether, Ryden traveled 14 miles during his frightening maritime adventure. He was said to be in good shape despite his ordeal, the Daily News reported.
// Copyright 2007 by United Press International



Publication date: 18 November 2007   

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