A woman who was allegedly left to die at sea by her husband has survived after hanging onto the back of the boat as it made its way to shore, police say.
Douglas Naehar, 60, was allegedly in a bad mood, according to court documents, when the couple set off from the Florida coast for a fishing trip.
He allegedly snapped when the rod line broke.
The alleged victim feared confrontation with her husband of three years, leaping off the boat and clinging to a pool noodle in a bid to stay afloat as well as a rope attached to the boat.
Naeher allegedly untied the rope before driving off at speed, and leaving his wife stranded, 33 miles off the coast of Florida.
"The (alleged) victim then stated the defendant was leaving her there to die," Manatee County Court documents state.
The man then brought her back on board after another boat sailed into view.
However, it is alleged Naeher punched her multiple times in the head along with stomping on her.
GETTY
|The woman climbed back onto the boat before calling police
He is also alleged to have dragged her by the hair to the back of the boat and attempting to strangle and drown her.
"I'm going to kill you," Naeher allegedly shouted.
With his wife back in the water, he allegedly powered off without realising she had locked her feet onto a ladder.
The wife is said to have climbed back on the boat and reported the alleged incident to police once it had docked back at the family's home.
GETTY
|The woman was allegedly almost left 33 miles off the coast of Florida
She was treated for varying injuries in hospital.
Those included a swollen right eye, severe bruising, and a concussion.
Naeher was arrested on Monday before being charged with first-degree murder.