While filming television series River Monsters last November, a production crew for U.S. network Animal Planet discovered something they never expected: a castaway on a deserted island.
The team, including presenter Robert Wade, were investigating the death of six men in a plane crash near Australia's Gulf of Carpentaria when they came across the fisherman who had been separated from his boat for 60 hours.
Speaking to InsideEdition, the show's director Stephen Shearman explained how the castaway had prepared himself for death after being stranded in 110-degree heat.
"He had said his last prayer. He was prepared to die and meet his maker," he stated before revealing the crew hadn't initially planned to shoot near the island; they changed locations due to choppy waters.
"Together, we spotted this blue Esky, or cooler box, that was just sat on the rock [when] ...this guy with no clothes was running out of the cave, waving his arms out."
Named Tremine, the fisherman told the crew how he'd been fishing on his boat when he decided to venture out to find better oysters.
Shearman retold Tremine's terrifying tale: "He had tried to walk back, got beaten by the sun, and made his way back to the beach."
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"Meanwhile, he had suffered from sunstroke and was unable to go any further. He then spent that first night on the beach, and the next morning he tried again, but the sun had gotten to be too much for him, and at this point, he is now trapped."
The fisherman, a native of northern Australian town Borroloola, was concerned nobody would be looking for him as he has no family. Upon discovering him, the crew gave him several bottles of water and sent him for medical attention.
Apart from a "bruised pride," Tremine is now fine and well, the experience leading to one particular enlightenment: "He's promised God he's going to start smoking again. If he had a lighter, he'd be able to cook, and he'd have a fire," Shearman said.
No volleyballs were found on the island.
This article originally appeared on The Independent. Its content was created separately to USA TODAY.
