The Australian sailor who spentmonths adrift at seawith his dog shared that a crew member who helped in their rescue would adopt the pup.Tim Shaddock and his dog Bellawere rescued last weekafter setting off on a 3,000-mile sailing trip from Le Paz, Mexico to French Polynesia in April.A few weeks after disembarking, a storm damaged their catamaran and wiped out all of Shaddock’s electronic devices, preventing him from contacting anyone for help, reported9Newsin Australia.Shaddock told the outlet he relied on his fishing gear to catch food — which he ate raw — and gathered rainwater to drink while he and Bella waited for rescue. Three months later, a helicopter that had been accompanying the tuna trawlerMaria Deliaspotted Shaddock’s boat off the coast of Mexico.ULISES RUIZ/AFP via GettyDuring apress conferencein Manzanillo, Mexico, on Tuesday, the sailor shared that a crew member from that ship will adopt Bella, whom he described as “amazing” and “something else.““Bella sort of found me in the middle of Mexico. She’s Mexican,” he said. “She’s the spirit of the middle of the country, and she wouldn’t let me go. I tried to find a home for her three times, and she just kept following me onto the water. She’s a lot braver than I am, that’s for sure.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Fiserhman Genaro Rosales was given Bella under the condition that he promise to take care of her, theAssociated PressandThe New York Postreported.Per the news agency, the loyal pup didn’t leave the boat until Shaddock had driven away on Tuesday.Tim Shaddock and dog Bella.HANDOUT/Grupomar/AFP via GettyPhysiology professor Mike Tipton, who works at the University of Portsmouth’s extreme environment laboratory, toldSky Newsthat Bella may have also made a “difference” in his survival.“He had companionship,” Tipton told the outlet. “Once you’ve got enough food and water, then I think the dog has an advantage. Your survival time is as long as you can keep collecting water, getting occasional food and doing things that help you stay positive.“Shaddock, who worried that he “didn’t think” he’d make it, said on Tuesday that he plans to return to Australia soon to see friends and family.While Shaddock said he loves the water, he doesn’t have any plans to set sail anytime soon.“I’ll always be in the water, I don’t know how far out in the ocean again I’ll be, I just love nature,” he said.

The Australian sailor who spentmonths adrift at seawith his dog shared that a crew member who helped in their rescue would adopt the pup.

Tim Shaddock and his dog Bellawere rescued last weekafter setting off on a 3,000-mile sailing trip from Le Paz, Mexico to French Polynesia in April.

A few weeks after disembarking, a storm damaged their catamaran and wiped out all of Shaddock’s electronic devices, preventing him from contacting anyone for help, reported9Newsin Australia.

Shaddock told the outlet he relied on his fishing gear to catch food — which he ate raw — and gathered rainwater to drink while he and Bella waited for rescue. Three months later, a helicopter that had been accompanying the tuna trawlerMaria Deliaspotted Shaddock’s boat off the coast of Mexico.

ULISES RUIZ/AFP via Getty

Members of the crew of the Mexican tuna vessel “Maria Delia” pose for a picture with “Bella”, Australian sailor Tim Shaddock’s dog, after arriving at the port of Manzanillo, Colima State, on July 18, 2023.

During apress conferencein Manzanillo, Mexico, on Tuesday, the sailor shared that a crew member from that ship will adopt Bella, whom he described as “amazing” and “something else.”

“Bella sort of found me in the middle of Mexico. She’s Mexican,” he said. “She’s the spirit of the middle of the country, and she wouldn’t let me go. I tried to find a home for her three times, and she just kept following me onto the water. She’s a lot braver than I am, that’s for sure.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Fiserhman Genaro Rosales was given Bella under the condition that he promise to take care of her, theAssociated PressandThe New York Postreported.

Per the news agency, the loyal pup didn’t leave the boat until Shaddock had driven away on Tuesday.

Tim Shaddock and dog Bella.HANDOUT/Grupomar/AFP via Getty

This handout picture released by Grupomar shows Australian sailor Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella after being rescued by the crew of a Mexican tuna vessel, part of the Grupomar fleet, in the Pacific Ocean on July 17, 2023.

HANDOUT/Grupomar/AFP via Getty

Physiology professor Mike Tipton, who works at the University of Portsmouth’s extreme environment laboratory, toldSky Newsthat Bella may have also made a “difference” in his survival.

“He had companionship,” Tipton told the outlet. “Once you’ve got enough food and water, then I think the dog has an advantage. Your survival time is as long as you can keep collecting water, getting occasional food and doing things that help you stay positive.”

Shaddock, who worried that he “didn’t think” he’d make it, said on Tuesday that he plans to return to Australia soon to see friends and family.

While Shaddock said he loves the water, he doesn’t have any plans to set sail anytime soon.

“I’ll always be in the water, I don’t know how far out in the ocean again I’ll be, I just love nature,” he said.

source: people.com