Last week we told you about former Miami Dolphins’ fullback Rob Konrad’s fight for survival after falling off his fishing boat in the Atlantic Ocean. The ordeal lasted approximately 16 hours, and at the end of it, Konrad swam 9 miles to the Palm Beach shore.
Earlier today, Konrad spoke to a group of reporters including NFL Network’s Jeff Darlington, to describe, in detail, the 16 hours at sea.
Former Dolphins FB Rob Konrad says, as he fights back tears, he was indeed 9 miles offshore when he was forced to begin swimming to shore.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 12, 2015
Rob Konrad says he was in the water as rescue helicopters circled above, but they never saw him. He realized he was on his own. Incredible.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 12, 2015
Rob Konrad was later diagnosed with hypothermia, severe dehydration and rhabdomyolysis, which is a breakdown of muscle fibers.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 12, 2015
Konrad says he spent 16 hours in the water. “I shouldn’t be here,” he tells a group of assembled media in South Florida.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 12, 2015
Konrad says he was bit by many jellyfish and circled by a shark while he was in the water — but shark eventually left. Is this Life of Pi?!
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 12, 2015
After 10 hours, fishing boat had lights on and was 50 yards away. “When the boat didn’t see me,” Konrad said. "I had to get my mind right."
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 12, 2015
Konrad followed sun west during day then followed lights on the shore. “I have 2 beautiful daughters,” he says. “I was hitting that shore."
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 12, 2015
Rob Konrad says he eventually heard waves hitting the shore: “It was a beautiful sound.” …When he hit the shore, he couldn’t walk at first.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 12, 2015
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
Source: Jeff Darlington via USA Today
