It seems as though anyone you talk to nowadays wants to get on Survivor or Naked and Afraid. Surviving with little food, water, and minimal tools has become a desired experience for many, but those that have lived through such circumstances have a very different view on survival. The individuals below relied on more than just survival skills and training to survive; they utilized will power and something even more profound to stay alive.
STEVEN CALLAHAN
Reminiscent of the Life of Pi, Steven Callahan survived 76 days lost at sea after his sail boat was hit by a large object (seemingly a shark or whale) which caused hole in the hull. He soon found himself adrift in the ocean on a 6 ft. life raft with minimal food and water. His only means of survival were a Gerry-rigged water purifier and a spear gun. His success in catching fish, along with his inadvertent chumming around the raft, led to the development of a mini ecosystem surrounding his vessel. This mini ecosystem led to his rescue, when two fisherman saw birds circling the raft just off shore.
MAURO PROSPERI
The Marathon des Sables is one of the most rigorous marathons in the world, consisting of 155 miles over the course of 6 days through the unforgiving Sahara Desert. Mauro Prosperi was one of the 80 participants to take this on. He was working his way through the pack when a sandstorm hit. Runners are told to seek refuge and wait it out, but Mauro did not heed the warning and attempted to push through. He found himself lost when it cleared and, with no one else in sight, immediately took survival precautions, such as peeing into his water bottle. A Muslim shrine eventually appeared on his journey where he took refuge, feasting on the innards of bats to survive. Desperation kicked in and he tried to kill himself via slitting his wrists, but his thickened blood would not drain. This sign of life gave him the energy to press on, where after 10 days and 181 miles off course he found himself in a village in Algeria. Four years later, he was back on the treacherous Saharan course that almost took his life, doing what he loved.
PAUL TEMPLER
Victoria Falls river guide Paul Templar is a seasoned veteran of the area, but he never thought his life would take a turn as it did. His story begins as a normal day on the water, when he was suddenly attacked by a territorial hippo. The hippo managed to kill a guide apprentice, then set his sights on Paul. Paul found himself head first in the clenches of the hippo, feeling the cool water on his legs, but an inexplicable dryness on his head or upper torso. He recalls being in the hippo’s mouth, where upon he was spit back up and grabbed by a co-worker. He suffered 40 puncture wounds, an arm amputation, and several overall injuries, but managed to escape with his life.
RICKY MEGEE
The story of Ricky Megee comes with many questions. Ricky was said to have survived 71 days in the outback after his car broke down on the side of the road. No one is quite sure how he got to where was as the police investigation rages on. However, his story tells of how he survived off raw leeches, grasshoppers, and cooked frogs to survive. He was found by nearby Birrindudu Station workers, looking like a bag of bones, having supposedly lost 125 pounds. Assuming his story is true, only one with a miraculous amount of will power and ingenuity could have found a way to survive such a hostile environment. Kudos to you, Ricky.
ARON RALSTON
The protagonist of the film “127 Hours,” Aron’s story is one of sheer will to live and absolutely out of this world pain tolerance. Aron is a seasoned veteran when it comes to climbing and exploring in the backcountry of Utah, particularly alone. However, the wilderness is unpredictable and on a solo trip up Bluejohn Canyon it reared its ugly head of unpredictability. He was making his way up the canyon when his arm became pinned in by an unstable 800 lb boulder. Out of options and 4 days into his ordeal, he resorted to cutting off his right arm just below the elbow to save his life. He made his way down to the trail and was eventually saved by a Dutch family who ran to get him help. His ability to stay calm under pressure is admirable and, frankly, legendary.
MARK INGLIS & PHIL DOOLE
New Zealand is one of the most desirable adventure locations in the entire world, but it still comes with its danger. In 1982, Aoraki/ Mt. Cook revealed this to be just the case, when it trapped Mark Inglis and Phil Doole in a snow cave for 13 days. A terrible storm had found its way to the mountain as Mark and Phil were mountaineering, prompting the two to seek refuge in a crevasse. The storm persisted for 13 straight days, only to briefly break on day 7 for a quick supply drop from a helicopter to the two. On Day 13, the storm subsided and the men were saved, but their legs were not. Severe frost bite required the amputation of their legs, but not their will to live.
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