Ben Fogle offers to pay for Australian castaway and his beloved dog to be reunited after heartbreaking separation-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro

Ben Fogle wants to help Tim Shaddock reunite with his Bella (Picture: Rex / Getty)

Ben Fogle has offered to pay to reunite an Australian castaway and his beloved dog Bella.

The 49-year-old TV star and adventurer explained he was ‘so moved’ by the story of castaway Tim Shaddock and his canine companion, who was the only one by his side as he got lost at sea for months.

‘I was so moved and inspired by the story of Tim and Bella that I want to help them to be reunited again,’ Ben wrote on Instagram.

‘I would like to offer to pay for the quarantine and travel of Bella to Australia to join Tim Shaddock.’

The 51-year-old sailor had originally met her in Mexico and while he tried to find her a home on land, she kept following him so he took her out to sea where they travelled together for three years.

However, his vessel was damaged in a storm and he found himself adrift in the Pacific Ocean, with he and Bella surviving on a diet of rainwater and raw fish.

Tim Shaddock only had Bella by his side for months lost at sea (Picture: Grupomar/Atun Tuny via AP)

They were rescued by crew members on a Mexican tuna boat (Picture: Ulises Riuz/ AFP)

Tim isn’t able to take Bella back to Australia with him (Picture: Ulises Ruiz /AFP via Getty Images)

Eventually, they were found by a tuna boat after a helicopter spotted his catamaran, and he asked Mexican fisherman Genaro Rosales – who was a crew member on the boat – to adopt the pooch.

Unfortunately for Tim, Australia has incredibly tough laws and big fees around animal import, with people only able to bring in animals from countries on the approved list – which doesn’t include Mexico.

The crewmember promised to take good care of Bella, while Tim is planning to return to Australia to be with his family and friends.

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Ben’s followers are hoping he’s successful in helping Tim and Bella reunite.

‘Such a lovely and generous gesture Ben. The world need more people like you,’ wrote one fan, while another person commented: ‘That’s such a lovely thing to do Ben. I really hope that they get to be reunited thanks to you.’

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