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Former Dolphins player swims 9 miles after falling off boat

January 9, 2015
The U.S. Coast Guard reports that former Miami Dolphins fullback Rob Konrad had gone fishing alone Wednesday after being dropped off at a Boca Raton dock. He fell off his boat, which was on auto-pilot and swam nine miles back to shore. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

The U.S. Coast Guard reports that former Miami Dolphins fullback Rob Konrad had gone fishing alone Wednesday after being dropped off at a Boca Raton dock. He fell off his boat, which was on auto-pilot and swam nine miles back to shore. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Former Miami Dolphins fullback Rob Konrad swam nine miles back to shore after falling off his boat while fishing off the South Florida coast.

The U.S. Coast Guard reports that Konrad had gone fishing alone Wednesday after being dropped off at a Boca Raton dock. Friends became concerned after he didn’t meet them for dinner, and the Coast Guard later sent a helicopter to look for him.

The Coast Guard said Konrad apparently fell off the 36-foot boat, which had been on auto pilot. Unable to get back to the boat, Konrad began swimming toward shore. He made it some time after 4 a.m. Thursday and contacted the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

Officials say the 38-year-old was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for possible hypothermia.

After playing four years at Syracuse, Konrad was drafted by the Dolphins in 1999 and played for the team until 2004.