Long Island swimmer returns home after being stranded in ocean for 5 hours: ‘I’m fine right now’
A Long Island swimmer, who was rescued after spending 5 hours stranded in the Atlantic Ocean, has returned home to recover following his ordeal.
Dan Ho, 63, of Copiague, barely survived being swept out to sea on Monday, only managing to hold on by tying a t-shirt to a fishing rod and flagging down a boat off the coast of Cedar Beach in Babylon.
He was released from the hospital and returned home on Tuesday afternoon and told The Post that he was feeling “healthy” and “strong.”
“I’m fine right now; hospital was very good,” he said. “I feel as strong as I normally am: recovered.
“I just want to get myself together, take a shower. I’m home, I’m just trying to process everything.”
The 63-year-old, who described himself as a “very interesting guy,” declined to talk further about his experiences as he continues to recover.
His neighbor, Victor Tolentino, described Ho as a “loner,” who was “always trying to do something wild.”
“One time he wanted to be a dancer, he tried dancing…he’s always into something wild. He’s just a funny guy. Very colorful guy, real fun,” Tolentino told The Post.
Ho was treated for hypothermia after being transferred to the Suffolk County Police Department’s boat, the Marine Juliet on Monday. Police said at the time that Ho was unable to stand due to exhaustion.
Ho had gone swimming around 5 a.m. by himself and wasn’t rescued until 10:30 a.m. when retired FDNY marine engineer Jim Hohorst and his pal Michael Ross pulled him from the ocean onto their boat, the Suffolk Police Department said in a statement.
Police said at the time that Ho was unable to stand due to exhaustion. He was then transferred to Good Samaritan University Hospital.
