Rob Konrad: Former Miami Dolphin swims nine miles to shore after falling off fishing boat

The 38-year-old swan equivalent of 290 Olympic-size swimming pools

Konrad in his days with the Miami Dolphins (Getty Images)

Former Miami Dolphins full back Rob Konrad swam nine miles to shore after falling from his fishing boat off the South Florida Coast.

Konrad, who played 82 games scoring seven touchdowns for the Dolphins in six seasons between 1999 and 2004, swam for shore on Wednesday night after his 36ft boot drifted away from him - the boat was on auto-pilot.

Mark Barney of the US Coast Guard told ABC News that Konrad was in the Atlantic Ocean for between 10 and 12 hours.

Friends are said to have become concerned when Konrad did not meet them for dinner, with the Coast Guard sending out a helicopter to look for him.

The 38-year-old was found by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office at 4.40am on Thursday morning after he contacted them - he was treated for hypothermia and released.

Konrad refused to speak to local media about the event.