Former Miami Dolphins running back Rob Konrad shared some chilling details on Monday of his fight for survival after he fell out of his boat off the coast of Florida last week.
Konrad, who swam nine miles to shore and spent roughly 16 hours in the water, was found by the Coast Guard on Thursday morning. During a chat with reporters on Monday, Konrad revealed that he could see a rescue helicopter circling above him, but no one ever spotted him. Jeff Darlington of NFL.com shared much of the incredible story on Twitter.
After the helicopter failed to see Konrad, he realized he was on his own. He says he was bit by multiple jelly fish while swimming and circled by a shark at one point.
“I shouldn’t be here,” Konrad told the media while fighting back tears.
After about 10 hours of swimming and treading water, Konrad said he spotted a fishing boat with lights about 50 yards from him. He still didn’t receive any help.
“When the boat didn’t see me, I had to get my mind right,” he explained.
Konrad said he followed the sun west from there during the day and focused on lights at the shoreline at night. He said the thought of his two young daughters kept him from giving up. He was eventually able to hear waves crashing against the shore line, which he described as a “beautiful sound.”
If you thought all that was difficult to believe, you should hear where Konrad’s 36-foot boat was eventually found.
Rob Konrad’s boat was eventually found off of — I’m not joking here — Dead Man’s Reef in Grand Bahama Island. That’s just chilling stuff.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 12, 2015
Konrad truly is fortunate he came away with only hypothermia, severe dehydration and rhabdomyolysis — a breakdown of muscle fibers. He’s very lucky to be alive.
