Ex Miami Dolphin Player Falls Overboard, Swims 9 Miles to Shore It was a close call for Robert Konrad when his boat left without him.

 -- A former Miami Dolphins player fell from his boat off the coast of Florida and somehow managed to swim nine miles to shore to safety, the Coast Guard said today.

Robert Konrad, who played for the Dolphins from 1999 to 2004, was fishing offshore when he fell from his boat Wednesday night off coast of Florida near Palm Beach, Petty Officer Mark Barney of US Coast Guard told ABC News. The boat was on autopilot and drifted away from him.

When his friends noticed Konrad was overdue they alerted authorities. The Coast Guard and Palm Beach Co. Sheriff’s Office searched for him for an hour. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office located him on the beach around 4:40 a.m. in Palm Beach.

He was able to swim approximately nine miles to shore and was in the water for 10 to 12 hours, Barney said.

Konrad was showing signs of hypothermia and was taken to an area hospital.

The website for KT Capital lists Konrad as a principal in the investment firm. A call and email to Konrad seeking comment weren't immediately returned.

With reporting by ABC News' Ben Stein.