Nobody Should Of Survived This, But This Man Did

[@toniivanova9360]

It's so crazy. Can you imagine the will for life that man had? I'd probably die on the first week.

[@casinoslots6656]

Thinking like that you would have been dead in a day

[@alterworlds1629]

And probably not even from the environment either. Just the staggering isolation and savagery needed to scarf live animals whole kinda shit. Drive you insane and off yourself eventually.

[@suyahatesntr]

I would've already eaten myself.

[@Chris-wb3qe]

First 30 minutes for me lol

[@LindseyLouWho]

Hell I'm dead just thinking about it. I complained on a cruise once when the ice cream machine went down FFS (to my spouse, but still, am I entitled or whaaaat).

[@peterpotatoes]

I remember hearing about someone surviving at sea for a few months. He said he just ate the fish meat at first but was getting weak and still not feeling full. He popped a fish eye out and ate it. Said it tasted amazing, then proceeded to eat all the body parts and felt better instantly. Pretty cool how your brain can change your taste for you to survive.

[@hkchan1339]

He must have got the remaining vitamins and minerals when he ate the remaining parts of the fish

[@jessiejamesferruolo]

"Nose to tail".... For carnivore diets, its often expressed how important it is to consume the entire animal. Organ are rich in many of the vitamins and minerals many other foods are lacking in... One perfect example is turkey liver. It has such a high Vitamin A content, that its not recommended to eat more than 400 grams in a weeks time... Shame too.... Turkey liver is one of the best meats available if you ask me...... Great with band noodles 😊

[@Artur-dy1dr]

Fun fact: after getting home and writing a book about his travels, his dead partners family tried suing him for the proceeds. Claiming that his partner didn't die naturally as described, but instead Alvarenga actually killed and ate him.

[@brindlebucker4741]

@@Artur-dy1dr And I wonder how they thought they were going to prove that?

[@Artur-dy1dr]

@@brindlebucker4741they wouldn't be able to prove it. It was obviously money motivated, nobody cared untill he got a million dollar book deal

[@EvGaming88]

438 days survived is INSANE, that’s some real resolve to push on

[@josesampaio5345]

I would’ve died in the first week!!!! That is impressive.

[@BobbyP5985]

@@josesampaio5345 Why would you have died? If you know how to make fire and find food you should be able to survive for years.

[@EvGaming88]

@@josesampaio5345 i don’t think I’d survive a weekend LOL

[@EvGaming88]

@@TonsofTony if you could bring 3 things…. What would they be?

[@EvGaming88]

@@BobbyP5985 that’s a good start Forsure, but freshwater would be difficult to find and I’m a picky eater 😂

[@jmarshal]

It takes a surprisingly short amount of time to completely lose it when subjected to solitary confinement of any sort, let alone added with the pressures of trying to survive, and the debilitating knowledge that at any moment you could die, and that your chances of being saved or finding land is slim to none. The sheer terror and loneliness this man must have been living with is unthinkable. It’s amazing he didn’t go insane.

[@sunshine3914]

I’ll volunteer to go out on a boat without anything but a gallon of water, a bucket or two, & some sunblock for 10 months. Should I die out there, at least I’d die in peace & quiet.

[@brandonmusick77]

@@sunshine3914 You're amazing.

[@Bj-en1qx]

People never focus on the kid that died that often cuz....well......u know.... the question pops into everyones mind... wat if he was able to survive by..... if he....... nope, not gonna go there, i dont wanna entertain the thought. So I'll just focus on the good part that he survived.....

[@HowlinWilf13]

@@Bj-en1qx Even if he had eaten him, he still had more than 10 months to survive.

[@EMan-cu5zo]

@@Bj-en1qx if he ate him I honestly wouldn’t blame him. As long as he didn’t kill the guy himself. Sailors lost at sea from what I have heard would eat the others by their position of power on the boat if it came down to it. Hard to fathom but who knows what a person would do if this happened to them. The other guy lived four months out there apparently so he had a good run. Most would be dead within a week I would guess. I go fishing offshore every once and a while and have thought of getting stuck out there many times. It would be terrifying because you have absolutely nothing and are extremely hard to spot.

[@bepkororoti2559]

touching ... he must have super reevaluated his life after this extraordinary journey would be amazing to hear him speak of impact it had on his life after

[@Enjyu_666]

It's fascinating what humans are capable of when pushed to the limits, when they put their brains to work and refuse to lose hope. That man has been both lucky and unlucky in more than we can we even imagine ways. I'm glad his story ends with a happy ending!

[@dalelane1948]

Makes you wonder if humans 200 000 years ago could do it too - especially if they took a fishing spear or most basic equipment

[@Enjyu_666]

@@dalelane1948 I might sound optimistic, but I'm pretty sure humans back then were able to do things we can't possibly do now, and obviously the other way around. Perhaps they were not able to achieve exactly what that man managed to, for understandable reasons, but if we are here today as a proof of evolution, then, whatever it is that we have learned and un-learned along the way, it's safe to deduce, if we put our minds into something (add survuval instincts) we can achieve things that mey seem imposible, but..... :)

[@nhmooytis7058]

You don’t know what your limits are til you’re already past them!

[@erickiyoshiphillips2323]

I learned how far we can actually go in the military and wildland Foret fires...I learned that we set limits on ourselves without meaning to. We can do so much more than have been doing

[@benmcreynolds8581]

I'm glad not only that he survived but that people were able to validate his experience. (Instead of people doubting his credibility about the journey of challenges he endured) *man I couldn't imagine what it would have felt like to regret that 1st tossing all your catch/food off, before they realized the horrible situation they were in...) The ocean in no joke. I've only been ocean fishing and crabbing off of the Oregon coast and I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be helplessly stranded out there in the ocean with no view of land in sight, no control over which direction you go... So many things... (I actually thought it was sweet and really therapeutic for him to speak to his passed away friend. It's a perfectly understandable way to cope with extreme trauma. His hand fishing ability and rain water catchment is genuinely genius. I hope more people hear this so they can think of at least a "option to attempt if ever in a situation like that one.")

[@gabriellashimone6546]

The sea is a giver of life and a taker of life, the sweetest love and the cruelest mistress. Alvarenga refused to let the sea take him, using his wits and titanium resolve to weather the most beautifully wonderous and horrifically terrifying Mother of mothers and tell his tale. This should be a film! I live in Washington state and grew up on the Great Lakes (Lake Michigan, specifically). I never take the sea or the Great Lakes for granted, know how to survive but my health anymore is not conducive to enduring such punishment. Be cautious, keep things secured as best you can on your vessel and take nothing of the sea for granted.

[@A_Black_Sheep94]

He was speaking to his dead friend because he was delirious and going mad 🙄

[@nobodysbaby5048]

You have unusual discernment & empathy. I hope you are a BH pro, of some kind.

[@hughgrection3052]

My older brother was lost at sea with 3 other men for 3 and half days. The weaker older guy managed to hold onto the bow of the boat. The other guy had a life jacket. My bro was the best shape guy and the only one that could swim. He treaded water for most of it. They too was on a fishing boat and had fish on board. The boat was leaking fish and sharks stayed around them nearly the whole time. Luckily they drifted back close enough to be spotted by a person on shore after the coast gaurd nearly gave up on them. He told me the story a couple weeks ago again and he cried as he did. He's a huge man too. It was hard to listen to to and watch him tell about it. So I can only imagine what this guy felt

[@duncanramsay9262]

This account seems fishy

[@hughgrection3052]

Well, I replied with a link to the story but good old KZbin deleted it thinking I'm a scam bot putting up scam links I suppose. Funny how they seem to leave the actual scammers links up forever, even let them run commercials during vids for Christ's sake. May be for the best anyways since names are involved. Totally true tho

[@spencer6268]

You are full of bullcorn .. you just want your five minutes of fame

[@hughgrection3052]

@@spencer6268 what does that even mean?

[@duncanramsay9262]

@Hugh Grection of course not. Just penny should have said recount

[@mikewarbin5776]

Been on the water all my life. Can't possibly imagine going through this! High five buddy!! Great job!!

[@jacobingram8152]

Who are you, Jesus? Lol jk

[@culturebreath369]

First time on a boat. Was out on a big lake with some family. Hit a sand bar and we almost sank. 🤣 years later. Tried crabbing in a bay of the coast of Oregon. That was COOL. Nerve wracking but cool! Had a great captain and company. Was a family who owned the boat, not a company. But that made it more fun!

[@IntrepidFC]

@@culturebreath369 As someone who lives in Qatar, I’d like to express how jealous I am 😢

[@culturebreath369]

@@IntrepidFC as someone who NEVER gets to adventure. I was lucky to have gone. 🙏 was many years ago.

[@kichigan1]

He's from El Salvador but lived and fished in Mexico. His story is a book now: 438 days. He should have a movie. People who knew him and fished with him said that if someone would survive such journey, it was HIM.

[@jbrown9163]

why him

[@Jesse-lv2yo]

sequel to 127 days

[@carlospenaesperanza689]

Just one correction: He’s Salvadoran, not Mexican. He was was working as a fisherman in Mexico 👍 Cheers from El Salvador, love your channel and your book!

[@Ellis_B]

Que pasa what a tough guy

[@Grizzly_Dragon]

0:30 Well, let’s call it two corrections. Anybody else noticed that the spelling of Australia is just a little bit off, you know, by an extra “i“?

[@sayfabdella2266]

@@Grizzly_Dragon different countries have different spelling

[@Grizzly_Dragon]

@@sayfabdella2266 I can’t find any evidence that what you say is true. I can find plenty of misspellings, but I can’t find any evidence that entire countries spell it with an extra “i”.

[@TheBibleGuy1991]

@@Grizzly_Dragon good catch bro fr props😊

[@fernandobautista3200]

You made me feel the story, you have got a talent at storytelling.

[@Tedkelvin]

Greatest survival story of all time. Regards from Kenya 🇰🇪🇰🇪

[@fitah47]

Tanzania here 🇹🇿🇹🇿🇹🇿

[@daduzadude1547]

South Africa 🇿🇦

[@jessbailey6718]

Read the book, 438 Days, he wanted to get back to his young daughter, that gave him the will to live. One of the best books I’ve ever read.

[@DNagy1800]

He shows what humans are truly capable of in a life or death survival situation and is a truly remarkable person.

[@erickiyoshiphillips2323]

Exactly I try telling people you would be surprised what you can do if your life is on the line. During the military and wildlanf fires. I would want to quit but whay are u gonna do stop walking and get burnt alive or keep walking hiking until you get where your safe. Life or death situations helped me in real life challenging events

[@NeilLewis77]

All very true. But the 23 year old boys death also shows that it's as much luck as it is a person's will to live. If they had happened to eat each others catch them things may have been different. A poison snake inside your catch. How unlucky.

[@tanlai407]

Thanks for sharing this amazing story! If I ever run into a tragic situation in my life time, I’ll remember someone out there survived 438 days in the ocean and never gave up! 👍 Cheers bro!

[@nebula0024]

Wow. What a terrible, harrowing experience that must have been. Great video, and some great animation!

[@raiderjohnthemadbomber8666]

My dad, (a full blooded Cherokee) use to catch fish that way while facing upstream in rivers. This is a story of pure will. Amazing!

[@Elric54]

My wife remembers an Indian in Colorado showing the family how to fish like this.

[@patkearney9320]

I'm a booz filled Irishman and I'm sixty and to this day I can catch trout with my hands been at since a kid.

[@shitsquirrel9]

I barely have the will to survive day to day life.

[@TwiztedHarlequin]

Same here. 39 y old German, unemployed due to medical reasons for a bit over 10 years now. Living off the German socialcare in my little flat in a small town in northwest Germany. Thinking about ending myself almost daily for the past 3 years, compared to this guy I'm living a faily decent life though.

[@lilyw.719]

@@TwiztedHarlequin You'll probably think that this is crap I'm making up and that I'm a liar or a nut, but who knows, maybe it's exactly what you need to hear. I'm about to tell you how to improve your life exponentially and actually find a fair degree of happiness. Find Jesus. No, wait, seriously - this is what happened to me. I'm talking about a legitimate miracle that converted me from over 20 years of atheism. A few years ago when I turned 40, I had nothing to live for and nothing to look forward to. I had had a rough life and missed out on everything I wanted out of life, just the simple stuff, a husband and kids and a little house in the country, and suddenly I no longer even had my career in state government, because I, too, was forced to medically retire. I knew I wasn't going to make it unless I had something, and I wished that I was the type of person who could believe in God, because that would be a great comfort. No sooner did I think that than I looked down at my feet and found a Bible verse on a scrap of paper, to the effect that you can't force Faith and that it's a gift of the Holy Spirit. It was pretty freaky to find a message at my feet that had to do with exactly what I was just thinking. And a couple more things happened in the next week or two that got me to thinking that maybe God was real after all. So over the next few months I took a fresh look at the beliefs of the Catholic Church that I had grown up in, and some of it started making sense, enough that I came back to church, just to test the waters, still an atheist technically but more agnostic. I had been back at church for one week and was at my second Mass the following Sunday when I had a vision of Jesus after Mass, and He told me something. A minute later He made His point. There was a really dramatic public medical miracle, where exactly what He told me happened - so there was no chance that I was hallucinating. He proved Himself. Frankly, the whole incident scared the ever-living crap out of me, lol. I've been devout ever since and have come to really love Our Lord. And there's a lot of peace in realizing that this world doesn't matter, it's just a means to the end of Heaven. And generally speaking, if one gets their happiness now - by being attached to and enjoying all this world has to offer - they aren't going to get it later in Heaven. That's what we should be working towards, not the vain comforts of this passing world that don't last. Our Lord wants to be found, but He wants people to seek Him and get to know Him and love Him for Him. And since He wants to be found, I absolutely guarantee that if you make a little effort, He will prove Himself to you, too. Maybe start with a polite prayer where you ask Him to do that.

[@nannettefreeman7331]

@@TwiztedHarlequin hang in there. Remember, just as quickly as your fortune was turned upside down, it can flip right side up again. I was a child prodigy, then a successful graphic designer, having lunch with the president, rubbing elbows with celebrities, living my best life, traveling the globe, then a couple of misfortunes, each entirely manageable on their own, aligned in such a way that I wound up homeless in the streets for just short of 6 & a half years. I've been back in traditional housing now for almost two years now, & find immeasurable joy in the most mundane of things: watering my houseplants, waving to the neighbors while I'm out walking my dog. I won't lie, my opinion of mankind took a heavy blow during those years I was homeless, & I have great difficulty becoming friends with pretty much ANYONE, & my life now is nowhere near what it once was, but having my membership to the human race restored has been a dream I'd begun to seriously doubt would ever come true, & yet it did! You simple have to be present when your luck finally changes. It could be years from now. It could be today. Just hold on. ❤️💪🏼✌🏼

[@nickevershedmusic8927]

@@TwiztedHarlequin don’t do it bro

[@redriver6541]

💯. I'm in a place of existential nihilism myself.... But.... This too shall pass. Enjoying the day is a chore sometimes.....but I keep remembering all those people I've known who have died young....and they would trade a life's wages to be here.

[@Capernicus19]

I cannot even fathom. So tragic but also such an incredible tale of perseverance.

[@AFloridaSon]

Imagine mustering up hope, day after day, day after day. All alone, with no one to encourage you to keep going, and every day wondering if you would even see the next sunrise. It would be much different. Stuck in the middle of an ocean, as opposed to somewhere on land. I guess something internal kicks in, but maybe some people have the drive more naturally. I feel like it would be super easy to give up.

[@replexity]

I think it’s what you said at the end. It’s likely that nearly all of us reading this will never experience it, but I believe there is no stronger instinct than the will to survive.

[@tyrellthiel2201]

It's amazing how motivating real hunger is.

[@wanjanechtangroeger]

I guess at some point you just shut off any "normal" thinking and go into pure survival mode. I guess everything just became a mindless routine with every day being almost the same.

[@jakerojas4756]

​@@replexity Love is stronger. Love will make you forsake survival

[@pharmphresh]

I'm legit worried that someone somewhere is currently floating around, lost at the sea for years, and we may never hear their story 😢 I salute his courage 💪

[@cam5816]

Thank you, I appreciate it. I hope I’ll be back some day. I never should have gone by boat to get some milk.

[@DoomsJ]

Now I'm thinking about that...

[@pharmphresh]

@@cam5816 maybe use the time when the Waves are not rocking too hard to call for help with your apparently still working mobile device 😅

[@awsomenesscaleb]

Doubtful. This guy already made one of the longest journeys across the sea one can make. If he didn't hit the Marshall Islands he would have landed on Asia a few months later.

[@ChinnuSped]

@@pharmphresh r/woooooosh

[@MyelinProductions]

Great Story Telling! WOW! GOD Bless him and ALL who are lost! May the lost be recovered and brought back their homes. Be Safe out there. Peace & Health to Us All.

[@pip915]

Makes ya remember to appreciate the little- (big) things in life and not take things for granted ❤️💯

[@dleddy14]

After watching this great video yesterday, I today, for the first time in my life, randomly met someone during a business meeting who was born in, and is a citizen of, the Marshall Islands! I was well prepared! He knew the story and (I assume) was well impressed with my knowledge of his country.

[@Matlack26]

Going through your videos from the past few years and this is the one where I officially became a fan ; you show proper respect with your language and emotion for the hardship endured while still throwing in your silly jokes and as always having great cadence and animations. I appreciate you n your team.

[@nelsonx5326]

What a story. I read a book about a couple who spent 7 days in a rubber life raft. They were approached by manufacturers of survival products on how to improve those products. EDIT: It was 78 days.

[@schwarzerritter5724]

I think I heard the story. They caught fish with a safety pin, yes?

[@nelsonx5326]

@@schwarzerritter5724 Caught turtles.

[@schwarzerritter5724]

@@nelsonx5326 Yeah, that is the one I was thinking about.

[@Serreski]

Were they Maurice @ Marilyn Bailey? Used to be friends of my mother but passed away several years ago

[@nelsonx5326]

@@Serreski Yes. I looked up the Baileys and I recognize them from photos in the book. Your mom knew them, cool.

[@siegwardskennedy]

Im surpised Thoughty2 didnt include the lawsuit that came of this. When Jose made breaking news the Family of his friend that passed away sued him for cannibalizing their son. He swore he was innocent but just like the people that were skeptical about his journey in the beginning, the family had theories that there was no way he could have survived that long without cannibalizing their son.

[@IterativeTheoryRocks]

That is mad. I hope they got over it

[@chrisazure1624]

As long as he didn't kill his friend, i wouldn't hold him guilty.

[@SkyborneVisions]

I doubt cannibalizing their son would have added more than a couple weeks to his survival at most--and that's assuming he could only "feast" on him for a day or two before the rotting carcass would have killed him too...

[@sumahlinton9604]

To be honest, If my son and another man where lost at sea and one died and the other ate him how could you be mad about it. Maybe if it was a murder but how do you prove it. Just be grateful somebody lived and if my son was cannibalised for survival I would be grateful his death helped to keep someone alive.

[@elfiefromangelcity6142]

They did the lawsuit after he made money selling a book too. I am sure they are grief stricken, and feel they are owed something, but it just seems disrespectful to use your relative's death as an excuse to cash out. People get weird after a death in the family.

[@irvinalvarenga]

I just saw this now but this is actually a cousin of my dad! When we heard the news it was wild! He is not actually Mexican though, he’s Salvadoran

[@ameliesayshola8854]

I remember looking up this story on my own because I was randomly curious who had survived the longest while adrift at sea. What a heartbreaking and crazy story!!

[@JessieHTX]

I remember when this happened. It was all over the news and internet. At least while people were questioning him. Heard a couple parts differently, but good video.

[@M4M1610]

The story of Steve Callahan who was adrift in the Atlantic in a life raft for 76 days is also a pretty epic tale as well

[@dk2428]

Just imagine the mental strength on this guy...He survived 431 days more than i would.

[@sidneyshaw9205]

437 days more than I would

[@denji6975]

438 days more than I would

[@erickiyoshiphillips2323]

Ur underestimating yourself. Humans will to survive is crazy but you never know because you don't challenge yourself

[@Samirah_al_ifaf]

437 more days than I would.

[@rodtaubman7772]

A quick fact on scurvy. Vitamin C is needed for the citric acid cycle i.e. when you eat carbs. With a very very low carbohydrate diet - eating fish and birds. Your requirement for vitamin C is massively decreased sailors often got scurvy because they ate flatbread without the necessary vitamin C to support the metabolisation of that type of energy

[@indigokiller]

A Perfect Storm, Castaway, and Lost at Sea all rolled into one.

[@adnan_Ok]

"Nobody should OF survived this" Perhaps it should be: "Nobody should HAVE survived this".

[@PetiteLameque]

We have a nice old-school survival story around here. The guy is actually one of ancestors. There’s a guy by the name of Pierre Duguay in the mid-1800’s that went fishing in a row boat in the water of Lamèque, NB. He caught a storm while at sea and somehow landed in Richibucto, NB (200 kms / 125 miles from his home). He was found unconscious by some people several days after he landed on that beach. After a couple of weeks, he found himself better, so he spent several days walking back home. When he arrived back in Lamèque, his wife fainted because they celebrated his funeral one week prior to his arrival. 😂😂

[@berkefeil5646]

Imagine people gone missing, being lost at in a boat at sea fighting for their life, only not to be so lucky after 438 days. There probably have been stories like this that didn’t end well that we never heard of…

[@kelsklaz]

Your videos never disappoint. Thank you for sharing all these amazing stories with us

[@roberttranceedm]

YOUR...fucking YOUR. How difficult is that?!

[@csickpuppy]

Haven’t watched it all yet but the size of the boat doesn’t matter. It’s the rest of the story that’s hard to swallow.

[@dukecity7688]

I listened to this while having my coffee. I almost skipped past because I thought it was going to be gruesome. You did a stellar job of presenting the story - because of this, I'm able to imagine - I love stories of surviving against all odds. You are wonderful.

[@lynnkesh254]

Then you will like NATGEO serieses: I shouldn't be alive and banged up abroad/ locked up abroad. ... U can find them on this app n they have enactments and plus survivors narrations....saw this one there n in the end the dead guy family sued him as soon as he decked claiming he must have eaten him for survival...

[@dakotadennett6979]

The title made me think 43 days but when I realized it’s was 438 😮 this is legendary!

[@michaelparks6120]

Absolutely an incredible tale of will ! I have never heard a thing about it. Thanks for this inspirational story

[@katekrylov]

And we think that world is small! Thanks a lot, really interesting and thought-provoking episode.

[@victoriaeads6126]

I looked up the Atoll on Google maps. It looks beautiful, but extraordinarily remote! What a journey! I hope Alvarenga has been doing well since then, and is thriving.

[@SoloMotivation]

*ONE OF THE BEST QUOTES FOR YOU* “Your mind is a powerful thing. When you fill it with positive thoughts, your life will start to change” - Gautama Buddha.

[@morbidmanmusic]

not true.

[@wade7959]

What an astonishing tale. Thanks for sharing!

[@mervyngrayjr8284]

Uganda loves thoughty2. Best stories ever

[@thomasriddle8877]

Man thats sad.. When alvarez died, it was probably like losing a sibling or close close family member, probably worst than that.. wway worst.. I cant imagine the despair he probably felt when he realized his friend died.. i hope hes doing well now man, hope hes not too traumatized to live life fully..

[@Frosty_tha_Snowman]

9:09 Layne Staley, the lead singer of Alice in Chains, went about a year without eating anything because he was incapable of holding down food due to his drug addiction. He survived solely off of ensure, vitamins, and speedballs. Actually.. hold on a second.. Thoughty2 needs to do a video on the rise and tragic history of Alice in Chains - I would say fall, but they managed to keep the band alive to this day.

[@markbaker5599]

What drugs stop you eating?

[@lucidrain9469]

please elaborate....

[@blunderless]

@@markbaker5599 anything can. stimulants like nicotine and cocaine for instance, and even weed (which is known for giving you the munchies) can cause cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, one which may prevent the person from eating sooooo many drugs stop people from eating, i can't even believe you are asking this ridiculous question.

[@Frosty_tha_Snowman]

heroin and meth when you do millions of dollars worth over the course of 8 years and feel you have nothing to live for after the love of your life has died.. he lost every tooth, had so many collapsed veins that he got gangrene in his arm near the end.. like I said, whatever he did ruined his body (kidneys, liver, etc) and his body rejected any kind of solid food he took in, and he had absolutely 0 bowel control - he didn't even have the motivation to take a shower, just enough to call his dealer and do whatever drugs he brings. He referred to it as a "long suicide" and that's pretty much what it's been dubbed over the years. I don't know more than this because details on his life are very scarce, as he somewhat hated the spotlight.

[@jas9239]

@@Frosty_tha_Snowman said he was like 86 pounds when they found him dead..the last known picture of him, he looked awful..such a talent that dude was though

[@kevinb9830]

I have his book and not read it yet. Always loved stories like this.

[@mandyD]

Another unbelievable but totally true story. Thanks.

[@mikeharrington5593]

Amazing story, well told. Thankyou.

[@coralieschulte6186]

I love your style. Such an excellent story teller. Thank you for the intersecting and very entertaining account.

[@jakemagulick7006]

"Just Live." There is something so simple, yet so powerful about that statement. This video reminds me of that.

[@edydon]

Incredible story. Just my 2 cents - my understanding is that boats, especially small boats, are in danger of being blown way off course all the time. Which is why you don't go out to sea without an anchor.

[@cytherians]

I'm always amazed at stories like this. Think of all the self-care tasks you do for yourself. Brushing and flossing your teeth. Trimming your nails. Swabbing your ears. Washing with soap. Protecting your skin from the sun. Getting exercise. Sleeping on a bed with pillows. Eating 3 meals a day, both hot and cold food or drink. You're deprived of so much... it's a wonder anyone survives at all.

[@stephenmcbride6359]

I was Shipwrecked on a small island off coast of Vancouver Island, in the winter, for six days in the 1980s. The experience has never left me. I can't imagine what it must be like for him. To survive these kind of things change you.

[@LambentLark]

I spent an entire winter (7+ mo.) alone at an extremely remote hunting lodge in the Alaska range. I am probably one of just a few people watching this, that has gone that long without seeing or speaking to another human being. If something bad happened, it was up to me to save myself. There would be no help to come. My solitude was comoletly different. It was voluntary, planned, fully stocked, and above all, finite. I knew, (well, at least 99.% sure) somebody would be there in the spring to fly me back to town. Even if they didn't, I have the skills and knew the direction to hike and climb through the mountains back to civilization if push came to shove. My path would be difficult but, clear and attainable. Even with this life experience, I can't even begin to imagine the level of dispare these guys felt. This/These man/men were at the mercy of their skill, ingenuity, and mother nature. Who, lets face it, is often lacking in any maternal instincts. She only lets the very strongest of her children survive. I think part of the reason he was able to do it is because he accepted what he couldn't change the situation and concentrated on what he had to work with more than all the things her wish he had. Not giving into frustration to the point you destroy what little you have. This man proved himself worthy to the challenge. The man lived to be a legend. The more kids this guy passes his DNA on to the stronger the human race will be.

[@hkchan1339]

Check out his book. 438 days. Best book I’ve read, one of the

[@ThereIsHopeThroughJesus]

If this happened in modern times, I imagine it's possible that something like this has happened multiple times throughout all of human history. Makes one wonder of all the stories lost in time and the possibilities in regards to how long ago certain continents could have been settled and the wide array of unique circumstances from which the settling occured.

[@sham8444]

Thanks thoughty2 that was flippin awesome

[@FollowPhotiniByDesign]

Wow, what incredible story of survival...

[@EMan-cu5zo]

This is a crazy story of survival. This guy is the man. Hope all is well for him. After something like this it would take a lot to be any worse.

[@kathypappas6867]

What a fantastic, amazing story . And the best part , there was a happy ending!

[@WeebRunner]

Wait, so this dude was literally playing irl Raft? Building a rain collector and improving it with trash from the ocean.

[@georginachristensen7308]

Nobody should have (should've) survived this.

[@zeldaveeblefetzer3475]

You're such a good story teller

[@ThunderboltWisdom]

That's the one and only time I've heard something good come from all the plastic floating around at sea. Picking up all those plastic bottles and containers to catch and store rain must have been a lifesaver.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

Not only is the story so fascinating but the animation blended with the live background is a joy to watch.

[@HeardFromMeFirst]

Another good one . An incredible story of survival, Terrible, Horrific, almost Unbelievable.. It happened to me last week...I will never get over it... The Price of Beer in London.... Thank you..from an Ex-Londoner now living 90 days in Spain, and 90 days in Surrey..(due to Brexit). .which is still better than living in London.

[@dustsanimaljamguide2364]

I love your videos so much! I know this'll be buried in a sea of comments, but they make my day better :)

[@MESYETI]

i hope it won't get buried

[@klarabarunovic9841]

Well, you're the second most liked comment for now...

[@vincentwalker2081]

Thank you for all the work that you do. You have shared with me a history I have never heard of before. I love history and historical events that rewrite what academics claimed to be the truth. Your archives of this history must be preserved in print, for electronic information can easily be destroyed or altered. I have started keeping my family history in stone.

[@colspiracy8326]

At last someone using the correct word for a poisonous snake. There's hardly any 'poisonous' snakes, even though people say it all the time. There's lots and lots of 'venomous' snakes. That guy was just very unlucky! The bird must have been immune? Or dead? I'd love to know, if there's any keen herpatologists out there in internet-world, that could answer my question 😉 🙂👍

[@deucefloyd9858]

My guess is it wasn't the snake that made him ill. I'm not sure about the bird being immune but the chances of the bird being bitten are slim. They are quite effective in their preying ability. And the venom of the snake would not exist in the flesh of the bird as a result of digestion because the venom would have been metabolized in the process and rendered inert. Even if the venom was consumed, unless he had ulcers or severely cracked lips the venom would have been rendered inert by his own digestive process. My guess would be one of the many diseases scavenger birds, and birds of prey, are known to carry. Salmonella is also a consideration.

[@danechristmas6570]

Amazing, (real) human interest story..Just couldn't stop watching!

[@paoloviti6156]

I find it incredible that José has survived for 438 days, even finding this couple was a miracle itself, that was sheer willpower to survive. As Thoughty2 stated it was pure understatement to say to say that it was sheer luck. I wounder how he is fairing now but for sure he will never recover and I feel sorry for his friend that didn't survive. Perhaps it is good to know the aftermath of Josè and here and I'm adding the following excerpt: After 11 days in a hospital, Alvarenga was deemed healthy enough to return to El Salvador. However, he was diagnosed with anemia, had trouble sleeping and developed a fear of water. In 2015, he gave a series of interviews about his ordeal to the journalist Jonathan Franklin , who published his story as the book 438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea. Shortly after the release of Alvarenga's book, the family of Ezequiel Córdoba sued Alvarenga for $1,000,000, accusing him of cannibalizing their relative in order to survive, despite their pact that Córdoba would not be eaten after death. Alvarenga's lawyer has denied this accusation.

[@gabriellashimone6546]

My how people become savage when emotion overrules reason and trust. Alvarenga was honest in all aspects of his account so I have no reason to believe he would have done such a thing. Did Córdoba's family expect him to keep the corpse with him so that he might get sick himself? Do they understand that eating someone who died of poisoning would likewise poison the one easting him? Again, reason flies when emotions become a storm. It's a sad end for Córdoba, to be sure. I hope Alvarenga was able to get past that and go on to live a productive and peaceful life.

[@gabriellashimone6546]

Also, I truly hope the litigation was unsuccessful.

[@paoloviti6156]

@@gabriellashimone6546 Also I believe too that José was honest and I don't believe that he transformed into a cannibal. I really wish that José will live in peace now...

[@G4m3rKoneko_Keori]

Im so glad he didnt eat hos friend. I spent the entire start of this just waiting for you to say he ate him and was so happy he kept his word and did not.

[@than217]

One part that stood out to me in the book about the experience was that he had to lick the morning dew off the bottom of the entire boat whenever there was no rain for weeks.

[@jplonsdale7242]

I have seen a lot of survival documentaries where people have done this to survive

[@Teelirious]

I think a story you would tell effectively (if you haven't already) would be the story of Alan Lee Phillips, who was rescued after his car got stranded in a Colorado blizzard by being spotted from commercial airline by a passenger staring out his window. And how years later the truth emerged about the horrible reason he was out in that blizzard. Thx for all your effort.

[@da7a69]

Damn! This guy is an absolute survivor!

[@georgewebber6313]

I would love to see a video on the Amazon rainforest being shaped by humans.

[@dingusmcscrungophd5219]

If I was ever in a situation like this and died, I would want others to eat my body if it meant they had a chance at survival.

[@RisingRevengeance]

I can't even begin to imagine how crazy you would get out there alone. I mean the first months were decent by comparison because he had someone to talk to. What do you do all day? Try to catch fish and just think I guess?

[@florenzlopez8088]

This is an amazing story of survival... I cant imagine not losing hope during those months at sea.

[@Gamert80]

Love the videos keep up the good work

[@josephsalmonte4995]

Imagine how good that land looked to José after being at sea forever. Amazing

[@tocarules]

Back when I was young I survived a covid lockdown.

[@joeymallozzi6785]

Super entertaining man great work thank you for the content

[@gabzsy4924]

You can't tell me these two weren't alternate universe Rhett and Link.

[@charleywalker2982]

Unbelievable, never heard this story until now. Thanks for sharing your videos and keep them coming please.

[@georgemorgan8325]

Ahhh my weekly dose 🤙

[@FeedScrn]

Some story. Some guy and willpower. And to add: Some boat. It's interesting to know that a simple boat that looked just a little bigger than a canoe floated that long. In better circumstances, Jose Salvador Alvarenga could have went around the world, maybe twice in that time.

[@chrisj3059]

Editing + Animation on point, quality upload

[@divinefallfromgrace]

Fascinating, Aaron! I knew nothing of this... could you do one other like this, if you can find the info? I can't remember the guy's name, nor did he survive as long adrift as this guy. But, he was sailing on an inflatable raft/catamaran on the North Atlantic, when his sail got snapped, and he got trapped in 'The Dead Zone'... for MONTHS, I believe. His Will To Survive was ludicrous- he built a Distillation Mirror to catch fresh water, was attacked by + fended off a shark, which partially punctured the craft, and supplemented his meagre water supply by catching fish and popping their eyeballs into his mouth, as the viscous fluid inside was salt-free, he later recalled it was "the best thing he ever tasted". I THINK he was English, but not sure. Worth looking into; I'd love a video to refresh my memory of this! 😉

[@carlosfunes9397]

He is actually Salvadorian not Mexican.

[@fernsandthistle]

You have a talent of telling stories. Thank you, it was fascinating 🙂

[@sammaldonado5931]

As a Mexican, I remember this on the media.... Most people used to think that this was an smoke screen for some stupid political scandal because it happened almost at the time, and in this country, that was a normal thing (smoke screens) and still kinda is. Anyway, every time I saw this story, I doubt it just a liiiiitle hahaha. I love your videos!

[@Reduardom]

He is not mexican, he is a Salvadorean that was working on mexico

[@jf1890]

Great story, Thanks!

[@dannypope1860]

Heyyyy, 42 here…

[@arjunmadhav94]

I felt like watching the movie LIFE OF PI after watching this. Hats off to the man seriously!!

[@cubeflinger]

This was a good story and your CGI skills are improving

[@soulesslemming]

I came to argue based solely on the title that the Shackleton expedition was afar greater survival story. Instead I think we need separate categories for solo and group survival stories.