Miracle: New Zealand Teens, Presumed Dead, Rescued After 50 Days Adrift In Pacific

[onehandle]

Source: AP, Huffington Post

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Three teens who have been missing in the South Pacific for 50 days – and were already eulogized in a memorial service – have been found alive by a New Zealand fishing boat.

The boys – two 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old – disappeared while attempting to row between two islands in the New Zealand territory of Tokelau in early October and were given up for dead after an extensive search involving New Zealand's air force.

Their craft had drifted 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) to a desolate part of the Pacific northeast of Fiji, when the crew of a tuna boat saw them frantically waving for help on Wednesday afternoon.

"All they could say was `thank you very much for stopping,'" Tai Fredricsen, first mate of the San Nikuna, said. "In a physical sense, they look very physically depleted, but mentally ... very high," told New Zealand's National Radio on Thursday.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/25/new-zealand-teens-rescued-pacific_n_788474.html

[Poll_Blind]

1. That has to be a record of some sort. What absolute, incredible luck.

People get lost and die at sea each year. Mostly immigrants in small boats who get swept into the open ocean. I have read some absolutely chilling stories of boats found adrift with bodies on board, including at least one from an African teen which included his heartbreaking diary entries.

After 50 days adrift on the open sea, they may not be adults but they're definitely not children anymore.

Just amazing!

PB

[hlthe2b]

4. Really.. what a way to grow up... Amazing.

[Harry Monroe]

20. Here's the record.

133 days adrift in WWII. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~judkins/survival.htm

[happyslug]

21. What he did is still reported in Survival books and Classes

133 days WITHOUT Water or food and lived. As the article points out, he caught water with anything on the boat, so he had water to drink. He used hook he made to catch fish (I had read elsewhere it was a hook from the wood of the boat, the article said it was wire from a flashlight).

Here is the New York Times Article written in May 23, 1943, which is the first time it is reported:
http://www.rarenewspapers.com/view/566593

[Poll_Blind]

22. Wow, I read that whole thing- then jumped around several places BECAUSE I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT TRUE!

That is not only an astounding story of survival but an inspiration for everyone. That is off the hook.

Thanks for passing that on!

PB

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. What a best-seller book this will make.....

unreal, just unreal.

Wow.

[joshcryer]

3. First thing I saw when I turned the computer on.

Incredible. It almost defies belief. But they appear to be well suited to this environment and knew what to do at the bare minimum.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. Water?

[joshcryer]

7. Rain

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

25. Yep.

[Moosepoop]

8. Rain

It was only the last few nights before their rescue that it hadn't rained, which caused them to begin drinking seawater. Prior to that, they apparently had enough rainwater to keep them alive.

[rasputin1952]

6. I love reading good stories...

:D

[pleah]

9. K&R

[Sancho]

10. the modern record was probably Steve Calahan (sp?)

He was in a raft for 76 days - and wrote about it in a book called "Adrift"

but still it is a miracle that three people had water and food for almost 2 months...

[Dirigo]

12. Adrift

I have that book. It was a captivating, riveting, harrowing story of survival. I've been to the South Pacific ocean and visited a number of French Polynesia. It's amazing anyone can survive being lost and adrift in such an immense ocean! Steven Callahan near death washes up on the 76th day on French Marie Galente near the bigger Guadeloupe Island in the Carribean in his rubber Ducky and his beautiful sailboat Solo long ago abandoned.

[happyslug]

23. As reported above the record is 133 days and held by Poon Lin during WWII

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poon_Lim

[AllyCat]

11. Some great news! So glad to hear they are found.

[theophilus]

13. There is an interesting story that Mark Twain reported on when he

was a young reporter. It was a similar story of, ultimately, fifteen men in one longboat that survived with 10 days rations for many more days. They finally made it to the Sandwich group and were ALL rescued. It is in the "new" Mark Twain autobiography. Fascinating. Twain's comments are great, naturally.

[guitar man]

14. What a great story

Kiwis, tough as nails they are ;)

:applause:

[activa8tr]

15. What a wonderful story for this day! I bet they suffered quite a..

bit during that ordeal. It's not easy to catch fish from a small boat in the middle of an ocean, nor to kill a healthy seagull that just lands on your small boat.

Then there is the hot sun, sunburn, and the lack of good sources of ample fresh water.

There will be a lot more to learn from their experiences. I hope they share it with the world.

[bonzono]

18. Thank you, seagull

Let us not neglect to offer a sincere word
of thanks to the luckless sea bird
that made the ultimate self sacrifice in
order to spare these lucky human creatures.

[tabasco]

16. Ballsy kids!

Rowing around in the Pacific Ocean - damn!

[proReality]

17. Now that's a Thanksgiving story! n/t

[Yeahyeah]

19. Long as they stay off my lawn.

[L.Torsalo]

24. May they learn a lesson from this

and not attempt another raft crossing of the dangerous waters around NZ. Young men, you have been saved, now do something to make our world better. And enjoy your lives!!!:)

[KamaAina]

26. Just what NZ needed after the mine disaster!

:bounce:

[time_has_come]

27. "Miracle" your addition?

not LBN practice...

[Odin2005]

28. Incredible! Those young men are DAMN lucky!