Adrift in the Pacific
Added 2024-03-12 11:15:01 +0000 UTCThere’s so much to this story that I couldn’t find space for in the video. If you’re interested in it, I definitely recommend the book 438 Days by Jonathan Franklin. It was written after months of interviews with Alvarenga himself, and is probably the most authoritative source that exists.
One thing I found particularly interesting was the detail about food. At first read it sounds entirely unpleasant to have to survive on raw fish, turtle blood and seafood… but Franklin reports on how the two men, at times, came to really look forward to these foods.
Each had their favourite parts of a bird, or favourite type of fish. And they would sometimes expend a lot of effort on preparation, making seabird "ceviche", or presenting morsels of food on “toothpicks” made from bones. Later, when Alvarenga started catching sharks, he recalled how intensely good their livers tasted to his malnourished body.
When you’re stuck on a tiny boat in the middle of the ocean, it turns out even a raw seagull or the innards of a shark can be a gourmet meal, if you’re hungry enough.
Comments
I can't imagine I'd do well in a similar situation, either. It's incredible that he remained optimistic for so long
Fascinating Horror
2024-03-18 15:00:25 +0000 UTCIt's amazing that he was able to adjust back to normal life at all after the experience he had!
Fascinating Horror
2024-03-18 14:59:37 +0000 UTCThe mental fortitude this man has blows my mind.
Angela Schwartz
2024-03-15 11:29:52 +0000 UTCThat is an amazing story. I can see why he's lost the enthusiasm for fishing. It makes you wonder how you'd do in a similar situation. Since I also have motion sickness, I would not do well at all.
Kathryn Clark
2024-03-13 17:57:27 +0000 UTC
