This is the miraculous moment an elderly fisherman was rescued after spending seven nights at sea drifting on a coolbox box in Indonesia.

Hamade, 62, went out to catch mackerel as usual in the waters of Kota Baru Regency, East Kalimantan province on September 17.

The fisherman was far out to sea when he noticed that his boat had a hole and could sink within a few hours.

He tried to plug it with pieces of rubber but eventually realised he needed to abandon his small vessel, which was sinking.

To survive, Hamade hurled the day's catch from his polystyrene and wood framed ice chest and threw it into the ocean.

He then floated inside the 5ft x 3ft box for eight days and seven nights without food and water.

Luckily, a passing fishing boat found him on September 24 afternoon in Balikpapan City, which is around 200 miles away from where his boat sank.

He was extremely dehydrated and starving so they gave him some food before taking him to the nearest port to rest.

The kind fishermen took the old man to the nearest hospital before they offered to take him home to his relatives.

After a health check up, the fisherman rested for a few hours before he was allowed to leave.

Speaking after, Hamade said he was thankful for his rescuers. He said: "I would have been dead if they did not find me. I am eternally grateful for them."

Kota Baru Regency Water Police Unit head Inspector Koes Adi Dharma said the man was in a stable condition when he arrived and is now with his relatives.

He said: "He has been sent home to his family members in Kuala Sambong in good health."

The police officers also gave him some money to buy food and to put towards a new boat.