How strong is our body - and most importantly, what is the margin of safety of our spirit? Almost everyone considers themselves strong. There is every reason for this: the work is done, the family is fed, the loan has been paid … But all these are the difficulties of civilized homo sapiens. Wildlife immediately puts everything in its place, showing what an individual is really worth. We will tell you some exciting stories about the incredible fortitude that allowed people to survive in the most extreme conditions. Be strong!
Robertson family
For 38 days, the Robertson family wandered across the sea. The father of the family, Dougal Roberson, decided to give a ride to the household: driven by a thirst for adventure, this British farmer took out the schooner Lucette and set off in an unknown direction. For seventeen months a cheerful family plowed the world's oceans, not knowing the problems. But on June 15, 1972, these guys met a flock of killer whales. The whales attacked and split the boat. The whole family got into a single boat. They survived on rainwater and turtle meat, which were abundant in the Galapagos Islands. And all would be fine - but the boat began to leak. The Japanese fishermen removed the Robertsons from the almost drowned boat, having dispersed before this a whole flock of hungry sharks.
Harrison Okene
On May 28, 2013, divers were looking for the cause of the crash of the Jacson-4, which sank off the coast of Nigeria. What they didn't expect to see was a survivor. Harrison Okene was the cook on the ship. He went into the latrine just as the ship capsized. The unfortunate chef was trapped - luckily, an air bubble formed here. The poor cook had been sitting under water for three days and had already lost hope, when suddenly he heard the sound of hammers. The divers pulled out the chef, crazed with happiness: Okene vowed never to step on deck again in his life. Still would.
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Expedition Endurance
Ernest Shackleton was not afraid to go to conquer the South Pole. His group of 28 people was to traverse the entire continent and board a ship awaiting them on the other side. The problems began long before the planned trip began. Shackleton's Endurance got stuck in the ice and people had to use lifeboats. Fortunately, Shackleton turned out to be not only an experienced, but also a lucky commander: all the participants in the risky venture managed to escape.
Juliana Margaret Koepke
This story is about a woman whose willpower any guy can envy. Juliana was flying LANSA Flight 508, which was struck by lightning and fell apart right in the air. Throwing away her panic, the girl strapped herself tighter to the chair and began to pray. Having flown about three kilometers, the girl collapsed on the crowns of trees - and survived. But there was one more problem: the wild jungle, where there was not a single person. Juliana coped with this, managing to hold out until the rescue expedition appeared.
Apollo 13
The legendary Apollo 13 mission could have ended in terrible tragedy. The faulty electrical wiring sparked right next to the oxygen tank. The entire crew had to move to the lunar module and get out into the main room only to correct the flight - otherwise they would have simply been blown into space. Maximum concentration helped Jim Lovell, Jack Swiggert, and Fred House return to Earth unharmed.
Rolston
And this is the same guy whose story formed the basis of the movie "127 Hours". The climber climbed high into the mountains without warning any of his acquaintances about the ascent. When the stone crushed Rolston's hand, trapping him, the guy was left with only a little water and food. After waiting three days, he decided to amputate his arm. Another two days were spent on unsuccessful (and very painful) attempts. On the third, Rolston guessed to build an improvised saw. And then, the climber had to descend 65 meters down, using only the remaining limb. Incredible willpower!