Inspiring Stories of Survival
Human beings are remarkably resilient, ambitious, and often stubborn creatures. We have the capability to overcome overwhelming odds, and tales of people who have lived through certain death abound. Throughout history, there have been several stories that show the survival instincts and capability of humankind, and we’ve compiled a short list of them.
The Voyage of the Endurance, 1914
Sir Ernest Shackleton led an expedition to Antarctica in 1914 with the intent to cross the continent on foot. Unfortunately, the ship was destroyed by pack ice and the journey shifted from one of exploration to survival. The journey lasted three years, during which time Shackleton led a scouting party for the rest of the crew, who survived on seals until they were able to finally go home.
Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, 1972
This story would later be known as the Miracle of the Andes. A plane carrying 45 people crashed in the Andes Mountains in 1972. After a few days, only a handful survived, and they would have to push the limits of human capability to endure. They were not rescued for 72 days, and to stay alive, they were forced to cannibalize other passengers who died in the crash. Two of the passengers, Nando Parrado and Roberto Canessa, made a ten-day hike across the Andes to find help. As a result, rescuers found the rest of the survivors and led them to safety.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place, 2003
Aron Ralston was climbing in Utah when he found himself pinned. An 800-pound boulder crushed his arm, trapping him against a canyon wall. He remained stuck there for five days until he realized he had to act or he would die there. Ralston did the unthinkable to stay alive – he leveraged his pinned arm against the boulder until the bones broke. Then, he used a small pocketknife to cut through the soft flesh and muscles to break free. He then had to rappel 65 feet down one-handed. Despite losing his arm, Ralston continues climbing and has conquered all 55 Colorado peaks over 14,000 feet.
Surviving the Amazon, 1981
Yossi Ghinsberg and a crew of three men undertook an expedition to the Bolivian Amazon rainforest in 1981. Soon after their arrival, the group split into pairs due to a lack of equipment, and two of the men were never seen or heard from again. Ghinsberg and his partner put together a makeshift raft to navigate the river, but it split on a rock and they were separated. While Yossi’s partner was soon found by locals, Yossi himself wandered for 19 days in the jungle until his partner, along with members of the local tribe, found him alive.
Mount Cook, 1982
Mark Inglis and Phil Doole, two new Zealanders climbing “Aoraki,” or Mount Cook – the tallest peak in New Zealand – were trapped by a blizzard. For 13 days they were stuck in a cramped ice cave, but managed to survive with minimal rations. Because of the close quarters, both men lost circulation in their legs. After their rescue, doctors found that both men would have to have their legs amputated. Neither man was stopped by this. Inglis carried on climbing, becoming the first double amputee to reach the peak of Mount Everest in 2006.
South Pacific Sailing, 1983
Tami Ashcraft and her boyfriend, Richard Sharp, set sail from Tahiti aboard the Hazana, a 44- foot sailboat bound for San Diego. Unfortunately, the boat was battered by Hurricane Raymond. The waves knocked Ashcraft unconscious below decks for over a day, and Sharp was swept away in the waves. Once the storm subsided, Ashcraft made a makeshift mast and sail to replace the one torn off by the storm and survived for 40 days as she sailed 1,500 miles to Hawaii.
Hopefully you never endure such extreme situations; however, if you do suffer a personal injury from a car accident, slip and fall, elder abuse, or in any other accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact Liljegren Law Group for help, today.