Former Dolphins FB Rob Konrad describes amazing nine-mile swim to shore
By Dave Fuqua
Former Miami Dolphins FB Rob Konrad describes what it was like to be forced to swim 9 miles to shore.
Rob Konrad had gone out alone to fish this past week when he fell off of his boat and was unable to get back on. The boat had been on autopilot and left him stranded in the water nine miles off shore. Konrad spoke to Jeff Darlington of the NFL Network. Darlington tweeted some pretty astounding facts of his conversation with Konrad.
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
Sharks circled below but didn’t bite. Helicopters circled above but didn’t rescue. Yet Konrad, stuck 8 miles offshore, never gave up. Wow.
— 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
Konrad was a second round pick in 1999 who played six seasons in the NFL. He is now 38 years and married with 2 daughters. What an absolutely chilling and amazing story. This sounds like a story that was written for the big screen of Hollywood and will probably end up there soon enough.
What sheer determination and love for his family he showed in his ability to get back to shore. This is just one more piece of evidence in the fact that professional athletes are paid as well as they are for a reason. It is hard to think that had that been an ordinary man without the training and skills of an NFL athlete if we would be enjoying such a happy ending to this story.
Well thankfully this story does have a happy ending and Konrad is doing well and reunited with his loving family.
h/t For The Win
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