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Stranded in the Atlantic Ocean for Five Hours With No Hope of Return, 63-Year-Old New York Swimming Enthusiast Marks the Perfect Return

Published 08/02/2023, 1:51 PM EDT

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Amidst the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, a heart-stopping incident unfolded, capturing the attention of the sports world. A New York swimmer, Dan Ho, emerged from a perilous encounter with death, evoking a sense of awe and relief. A recent update on his survival is making headlines in the swimming community.

For five harrowing hours, he battled the unforgiving currents, stranded and vulnerable. Yet, in a twist of fate, rescue came, and he emerged from the danger zone unscathed. His words are no less than a beacon of hope and inspiration.

Swimming enthusiast’s long battle

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According to NEW YORK POST News, amid relentless ocean currents, 63-year-old Dan Ho started swimming but fell prey to unprecedented circumstances. Little did he know that the waves soon transformed into a struggle for survival. However, he summoned every ounce of resilience to stay afloat and tried clinging with hope. Recalling the harrowing incident, Ho recounted, “I thought I was done.”

Approximately after five hours, that is at 10:30 am t, he stumbled upon a fishing pole in the water, securing his shirt to it and signaling for help. Nearly 2 1/2 miles south of the beach where Ho had begun his swim. Retired FDNY marine engineer Jim Hohorst and his companion Michael Ross spotted the distress signal. Hohorst said, “He was in shock and pretty incoherent at the time.”

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They pull Ho safely into their boat. But first, he was treated by a Coast Guard medic and then taken to the hospital. Emerging from the big incident and a grueling rescue, Dan Ho returned safely to the shores of Long Island. The hours stretched endlessly as exhaustion and hypothermia took their toll. 

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A triumph of recovery

Released from the hospital on Tuesday afternoon, Ho expressed gratitude for the exceptional care he received, his spirits bolstered by steadily improving health. He says, “I’m fine right now; the hospital was very good,” continuing “I feel as strong as I normally am: recovered. However, he remains contemplative about the entire experience. And declined to delve into the specifics of his ordeal. He wants to focus on the road to recovery. “I just want to get myself together, take a shower. I’m home, I’m just trying to process everything,” said Ho. 

Read More: “Went Down in 10 to 15 Feet of Water”: Dark Clouds Form Over Swimming World as 88-Year-Old Man Meets With a Tragic Fate

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Furthermore, the Suffolk Police Department acknowledged Dan Ho’s awe-inspiring will survive, even in the face of physical limitations. This is not the first incident. Three individuals were saved from the waters off Long Island last week. Lifeguards were responsible for rescuing two swimmers, while a kind-hearted bystander came to the aid of the third person.

Watch This Story: Discover the Top 5 Underrated Health Benefits of Swimming

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Written by:

Harshita Chawla

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One take at a time

Harshita Chawla is a US Sports writer at Essentially Sports. Having contributed to college magazine as a sports writer, she comes with a staunch knowledge in content creation for the sports industry. Along with this, Harshita is a huge fan of Gymnastics queen Simone Biles and has a penchant for writing about her favorite athlete.
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Edited by:

Purva Jain