Ex-Dolphin Rob Konrad tells incredible story of survival at sea

Former Miami Dolphins fullback Rob Konrad held a press conference Monday to tell the story of his incredible swim to safety after being thrown from his fishing boat nine miles off the coast of Florida.

The 38-year-old, who was released from hospital Sunday, had to pause several times to compose himself as he detailed his nightmarish ordeal. 

Konrad said an "unusually large wave" hit his boat and left him in the water with no life vest and no option but to attempt to swim to shore. Returning to the boat wasn't an option, as it was on autopilot and quickly sailed away. 

Konrad said he encountered fishing boats and a Coast Guard vessel on his journey but was unable to flag them down. He said he was assailed by a variety of marine life, including jellyfish and a shark that circled him as the sun went down. 

"After some time i just said look, I’m not dying tonight and I’m going to make it to shore," Konrad said, adding that he used thoughts of his two daughters as motivation. 

"He had two angels on his back," Konrad's wife said.