Rob Konrad, a fullback who spent six years with the Miami Dolphins, survived a boating accident in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday night by swimming nine miles to shore, the Coast Guard said.

A Dolphins official told the Miami Herald that Konrad, who's not ready to comment publicly, said Konrad told him he's OK and still recovering from the ordeal.

According to multiple reports, Konrad, 38, who was said to be fishing alone off the coast of South Florida, fell from his 36-foot boat, which had been operating on autopilot.

The Herald reports Konrad departed Deerfield Beach at 10:30 a.m. and fell overboard at 1 p.m. The boat, which drifted away from him, was found Friday morning.

The Dolphins official said Konrad wanted to convey his appreciation for "everyone's concerns."

Two of Konrad's friends told the Herald he was stranded for nearly 16 hours, not the nine hours originally reported by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Konrad played for the Dolphins from 1999 to 2004, starting 57 games while playing in 82. The former Syracuse player was released by Miami in March 2005.

Friends became concerned after he didn't meet them for dinner, and the Coast Guard later sent a helicopter to look for him, according to The Associated Press.

Konrad was found on the beach by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office at 4:40 a.m. ET on Thursday morning after he contacted them.

Konrad was treated at a hospital for hypothermia symptoms and released. He reportedly declined to speak to local media about the event.

ABC News reported Konrad was listed on a website for investment firm KT Capital as a principal.