Top 7 Incredible Human Survival Stories
Human beings are pretty remarkable creatures - take a look at everything we as the human
race have created - from language, to architecture, to medicine- people are not only intelligent,
they're also extraordinarily resourceful.
That being said - when pushed to the limit, the human body is capable of withstanding
some horrendously extreme conditions.
Let's take a look at seven of the most extreme, difficult and downright impressive survival
stories of all time.
And - find out later the horrifically disgusting lengths some people have had to endure.
We promise - you'll more than likely want to take a shower.
Number seven - Harrison Okene.
On May 28, 2013, Harrison Okene, a twenty-nine year old cook working aboard the Jacson-4
- was using the washroom when his vessel was overturned after being badly weathered by
heavy swells.
Sinking twelve miles off of Nigeria's mangrove-lined coast, the vessel began to rapidly capsize
around five AM - with Okene unsuccessfully scrambling from the toilet to reach an emergency
exit hatch.
Watching several of his fellow crew members get sucked into the sea, he was then pinned
in the small latrine cabin 30 meters below the freezing waters - with only his underpants
for warmth and four square feet of bubbled air to breathe in.
Spending an approximate 60 hours underwater - a team of South African divers finally came
to his rescue.
Number six - The Robertson Family.
Keeping with the theme of the sea - let's take a look at these fellow water-prisoners,
although this family spent their time on TOP of the lonely blue.
In 1971, British dairy farmer Dougal Robertson set out to take his family of six on a boat
trip, dubbed "the university of life" by one of his sons.
Although the patriarch was formerly in the British merchant Navy, his ill-fated preparedness
cost his family a perfect trip.
Encountering a group of killer whales near the coast of the Galapagos Islands, their
boat was severely damaged - leaving the family to survive on a tiny lifeboat, a small dinghy
and six days' worth of food.
After 16 days, the family was left clinging to just the dinghy - finally being spotted
and rescued by Japanese fisherman.
Number five - Ada Blackjack.
1921, Alaskan native (and member of the indigenous Iñupiat people) Ada Blackjack was hired by
two Canadians to accompany them as a seamstress and cook on a takeover expedition to the Wrangel
Islands - in what is now Russian territory.
When the crew arrived on land they setup camp, after running out of supplies Blackjack was
eventually left alone on the island after three members left to seek food.
Spending almost two years stranded and surviving on her own (not to mention avoiding the constant
indigenous threat of polar bears), she was finally rescued in 1923 - tragically arriving
home to severe backlash and living in poverty until her death in 1983.
Number four - Douglas Mawson.
In 1912, Australian scientist Douglas Mawson set out on a brave (but otherwise flawed)
mission to explore the depths of Antartica.
Returning back to base camp on December 14, 1912 - one of Mawson's accompanying colleagues
fell into a crevasse - dragging their sledge, supplies, food and even most of their dogs
into the deep below.
Left stranded a staggering 310 miles from home, the two men were forced to brave the
icy tundra, eventually only leaving Mawson alive.
Suffering from massive conjunctivitis and frostbite he survived a total of 32 days before
reaching his hut - only to wait another 10 months for a ship to return him to his native
home.
Number three - Ricky Megee.
Another Aussie on our list with an extreme survival story is this rather...
odd fellow.
Waking up face down in the middle of the Australian desert in 2001 to dingos attempting to eat
him, he spent the next ten days avoiding the perils of the Outback - desperately trying
to recount what happened between his last memory of driving and his most recent of being
canine-kibble.
Eventually setting up camp using twigs and branches near a water dam he found - Megee
spent three entire months surviving on grasshoppers, leeches and frogs.
Losing a dangerous amount of weight and going through one of the most psychologically shaking
experiences one could have, he was eventually rescued by farm workers and slowly brought
back to health.
Number two - Marina Chapman.
Born in approximately 1950, Marina Chapman was only 4 years old when an unsuccessful
kidnapping attempt left her stranded in the Columbian jungle.
After a clan of capuchin monkeys took the young girl in - they taught her to forage,
climb trees and even hunt.
After several years of stealing fruit and rice from nearby villagers, she was eventually
captured and enslaved by mafia families until she was rescued at about 14 years old by a
neighbor.
Although the validity of her claims have been a hot-button controversy amongst the scientific
and publishing community for years - time and time again, witnesses who recall the young
girl vouch for the truth in this real life Jungle Book story.
Number one - Coolidge Winesett.
Alright, so this brave soul may not have spent as much time trapped or isolated as some of
the others on our list, but you'd be hard-pressed to argue that this isn't one of the grossest
cases of them all.
This 75 year old WWII vet was using his Southwest Virginia outhouse when the floor beneath him
gave way from dry rot - catapulting the stroke victim (who was without the use of his arm
and leg) into a deep reservoir of human waste below.
The only thing keeping Winesett from completely drowning was the partially-submerged sub-floor,
holding him up as he spent three long days surrounded in pure, well - you know - not
to mention a bevy of snakes, rats and spiders to keep him company.
After noticing his letters were piling up, Coolidge's postman soon heard his weakened
screams for help - sparking his rescue.
Which of these cases of human survival was most shocking to you?
Let us know!
and if you LOVE our lists, make sure to smash that Like button and Subscribe for new videos
every week!