Paradip, Oct. 15: Eighteen sea-going fishermen from Tamil Nadu clutched on to debris of their vessels and drifted in the sea for over 24 hours in the face of cyclone Phailin.

The Tamil fishermen, who have scripted the tale of a miraculous survival at a time when Phailin was battering the Odisha coast, are now recuperating in Jagatsinghpur.

Their bravery in tiding across the turbulent sea water has prompted district collector Satya Kumar Mallick to personally supervise their recovery from sea sickness and pneumonia.

“It is heartening to note that they have survived against all odds. We had lost all hopes of their survival after the coast guard ship had failed to rescue them because of the rough sea. But, they showed immense grit to have come alive from the claws of death,” said Mallick.

“The fishermen, who had boarded a motorised vessel for sea-fishing, was caught in choppy and turbulent sea water. Though they were located about nine nautical miles, the coast guard ship failed to make inroads on October 12, as the sea was exceedingly furious. We were forced to retreat. Our plan was to rescue them on the morning of October 13. But, we were surprised to be informed next morning that they swam ashore,” said Paradip coast guard commandant S.K. Nath.

“It was a worst nightmare. It was due to blessings of the Almighty that we are saved,” said one of the survivors T. Anthnoy, 32.

“Our vessel broke down in the mid sea. Initially, though it kept on floating rudderless, later, it was broken apart due to the turbulent sea and gusty wind. And with it, our hope sank, too. There was no food and water. Yet, we looked forward to swimming ashore alive, may be only to tell the tale,” S. Higane, 25, of Thotho village in Kanyakumari district.

“After the vessel was broken into pieces, we kept clinging onto the remains of the vessel, plastic jar and ropes. We were tossed up like balls. But, we clutched onto the objects,” he said.

“Big waves tossed us up and down many times. But, we clasped the wood and the jar and tried to float on the sea water,” said Anthony.

“Our perseverance and will power to remain alive finally paid dividends. We were dragged to seashore at Ramatara in Jagatsinghpur on the morning of October 13. Some local people spotted us. They rushed us to the nearby Erasama hospital. We are alive today because those local fishermen,” he said.

Mallick said: “The state government has provided them the timely medical aid. They will set for Chennai tomorrow.”