The following 15 survival stories are true international survival threats where the survivor was isolated and alone. We can all learn from these survivors to first AVOID survival threats and 2nd remedy survival threats. Let’s start ‘Boy Scout Lost In The Utah Wilderness.’
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- Boy Scout Lost In The Utah Wilderness
- Boy Scout Lost In The North Carolina Wilderness
- Hiker Survives 06 Days In Snow Cave
- Boy Who Couldn’t Swim Survives 30 Minutes Underwater
- Dog Rescues Hiker Wedged Between Rocks For 04 Days
- Man Survives Underwater For 03 Days
- Hiker Trapped On Hawaiian Volcano For 02 Days
- Lost Tourist Survives 24 Hours in Colorado Mountains
- 03 Year Old Survives 11 Days In Unforgiving Siberian Forest
- One In A Million Frozen Death Survival
- Women Avoids Her Abduction By Pulling Out Her Concealed Weapon
- NFL Football Player Lost Out At Sea Swims For His Life
- Jet Skier Lost Out At Sea
- Hunter Goes Hand-To-Paw Combat With Ornery Bear
- Young Woman Thought To Be Dead, Walks Out Of The Alabama Wilderness
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Boy Scout Lost In The Utah Wilderness!
On Friday, 12 August 2011 at approximately noon, 12-year old Jared Ropelato from Hooper, Utah was separated from the rest of his scout troop while they were fishing in the Ashley National Forest. The Boy Scout Troop was fishing at the wooded area of Daggett Lake and Spirit Lake. Jared was reported to go get some more fishing lures and wandered away into the rough terrain of the Ashley National Forest. At approximately noon on 12 August 2011, authorities were alerted and a Search And Rescue (SAR) was immediately in motion with approximately At lease 20 searchers on foot, horseback and on ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles).
With the great odds against Jared, Jared was a boy scout with some boy scout training and his 04 older brothers were all Eagle Scouts, which is the highest earning award for boy scouts.
Jared alone and isolated in the wilderness with no extra clothes, no backpack of survival supplies, employed the following survival applications:
- Went static to make camp
- Built a Shelter Lean-To
- Dug a hole for himself and piled the dirt on himself to keep warm
The night and early morning hours of the 12th & 13th August 2011, temperatures got down to the 40s. So his survival applications probably saved his life.
On the morning of 13 August 2011 – Saturday, Jared was found 05-miles away from his LKP (Last Known Point) by SAR members on ATVs. Jared was taken to the SAR Command Post and evaluated by medical staff who evaluated his condition as good.
Paperback Book—————Kindle E-Book
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See “How To Plan Your Outdoor Adventure!” and “12 Real Survival Tragedies You Have To Know!“
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Boy Scout Lost In The North Carolina Wilderness!
On Saturday, 17 March 2007, 12-year old Boy Scout Michael Auberry and his scout troop were camping at Doughton Park located in northwestern North Carolina. Michael was reported homesick and wandered away from the scout campsite and wanted to hitchhike home.
Dozens of volunteers (approximately 100) to include helicopters, rescue dogs, law enforcement, National Park Service,… searched for Michael. Gandalf, a 02-year old Shiloh Shepherd picked-up Michael’s scent within a mile from the boy scout campsite at Doughton Park.
Boy Scout Michael Auberry employed the following survival actions during his 04-days and 03-nights in the wilderness:
- Wore 02 jackets
- Slept in branches of trees
- Slept under rocks
- Drank water from streams
On Tuesday, 20 March 2007, searchers to include Gandalf (02-year old Shiloh Shepherd), found Michael walking along a stream. Michael was put on a stretcher and transported to a nearby road where he was eventually transported to a hospital.
See “How To Plan Your Outdoor Adventure!” and “12 Real Survival Tragedies You Have To Know!“
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Hiker Survives 06 Days In Snow Cave!
On Sunday, 24 March 2013, hiker, 23-year old Mary Owen set out to conquer Mount Hood. On Thursday, 28 March 2013, Mary was reported missing and the search was on.
On Sunday, Mary was caught in a blasting snow blizzard – a white-out. She cut her leg from slipping in the snow. Mary survived her 06 days on Mount Hood by:
- Carved out a snow cave
- Moved to safer survival site to avoid avalanches
- Started fires to keep warm
- Melted snow for drinking water
On Saturday, 30 March 2013, Mary was spotted by a National Guard helicopter. Mary was rescued and spent Easter Sunday with her family. She requested French Toast and a hot bath.
Paperback Book—————Kindle E-Book
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See “How To Plan Your Outdoor Adventure!” and “12 Real Survival Tragedies You Have To Know!“
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Boy Who Couldn’t Swim Survives 30 Minutes Underwater!
On Tuesday, 04 June 2013, at approximately 6:30pm, 15-year old Cesar Campuzano with friend were at a dock at Roger’s Landing near Portland, Oregon. Cesar told his friends he couldn’t swim. His friends thought he was joking. But Cesar still bravely jumped in the water. Unable to swim, a few of his friends jumped in the water to retrieve, but Cesar’s panicked actions was too much for his friends. They were unable to retrieve him.
His friends immediately called authorities. By the time authorities were assembled with scuba divers and boat, Cesar was underwater for approximately 30 minutes.
CPR and an AED (shocking device) was applied to Cesar and the 1st responders brought Cesar back to life. Cesar was eventually airlifted to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, OR.
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Dog Rescues Hiker Wedged Between Rocks For 04 Days!
On Monday, 25 March 2013 in the morning hours, Raymond Llamas was walking his dog on Mount Rubidoux, near Riverside, California. Raymond with his 01-year old dog Mole hiked the trail when Mole spotted something in the rocks off the trail. The curious dog on a leash went to investigate, pulling Raymond with him.
Raymond observed a man in the rocks looking up at him. The man wedged and trapped between the rocks is identified as 44-year old Paul ___________. Llamas gave the dehydrated man his water.
According to Raymond, “He said he’d been there between four and six days with no food.”
Raymond and other hikers called authorities. Riverside Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Team hiked to the location and retrieved Paul.
According to Capt. Bruce Vanderhorst of the Riverside Fire Department: “In talking to him, we think he came up here at night time. So we think he was unawareof his footing, slipped in between some rocks and slid down to the location where he was at.”
I figure if it wasn’t for Raymond’s curious dog Mole, Raymond probably would have bypassed Paul. Mole save Paul’s life.
Paperback Book—————Kindle E-Book
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Man Survives Underwater For 03 Days!
On 26 May 2013, at 4:30 am, Harrison Odjegba Okene, a cook, was in the bathroom when his tugboat gave a lurch and started sinking in 100-feet of water in the Atlantic Ocean. The crew of the tugboat included 10 other Nigerians and a Ukraine captain. Harrison’s tugboat and 02 other tugboats were pulling an oil tanker in Nigeria’s oil-rich Delta waters.
In Harrison’s own words: “I was dazed and everywhere was dark as I was thrown from one end of the small cubicle to another.”
“I started calling on the name of God. … I started reminiscing on the verses I read before I slept. I read the Bible from Psalm 54 to 92. My wife had sent me the verses to read that night when she called me before I went to bed.”
Harrison wearing only boxer shorts, ‘brailed’ his way through the dark tugboat. He found tools and a life vest with two flashlights. Harrison ‘brailed’ his way through the dark sunken tugboat and found a cabin with an pocket of air.
The waters in the cabin slowly rose and Harrison stacked 02 mattresses on top of a rack he made. Harrison was smart to pick-out the cabin he stayed in for 03 days for it provided just enough air to keep him alive. At one time, Harrison heard a boat that dropped their anchor. He stripped one wall bare exposing the metal and started pounding on the metal wall with a hammer.
On his 3rd day underwater, Harrison’s family as well as the other crew’s family members were already told their loved ones were dead.
But on the 3rd day divers were recovering the dead bodies of his fellow 10 crew members. One diver grabbed Harrison’s hand thinking he grabbed another dead body. But when the hand grabbed back, it not only scared the hell out of the diver but the crew on the recovery ship that were viewing everything on camera.
Harrison was retrieved, warmed-up with hot water and put in a decompression chamber before being transported to the recovery ship.
Harrison survived his impossible survival by the following survival actions:
- Found a cabin with sufficient air
- Found a single bottle of Coca Cola for nutrition
- Secured tools, life-vest and flashlights
- Attempted to stay out of the water to avoid hypothermia and underwater predators
- Signaled rescuers with a hammer pounding on metal wall
- Continually prayed and reminisced about his family and fellow crew members
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Hiker Trapped On Hawaiian Volcano For 02 Days!
On Sunday, 15 December 2013, 36-year old lone hiker, Alex Sverdlov, hiked the 18-mile trail to the top of Mauna Loa at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. On Tuesday, 17 December 2013, Alex reached the 13,677-foot summit of Mauna Loa. But before he reached the summit, Alex dropped his heavy gear at a lower elevation.
On Tuesday, Alex began his descent. According to the National Park Service: ‘fast-moving winter storm pummeled the island summit this week with blizzard-like conditions.’
Alex attempted to find his heavy pack but failed because of white-out conditions and ‘hunkered down for the night.’ All Alex had with him the 1st night were the clothes on his back and a frozen bottle of water. The next day, Alex found his heavy pack with all his gear but still couldn’t descend down Mauna Loa because of the snow.
After the 2nd day trapped on Mauna Loa, a rescue helicopter spotted Alex and retrieved him. The only reason the National Park Service new Alex was somewhere on Mauna Loa, was because he filled-out a ‘Backcountry Permit.’ The National Park Service went to the base of the trail and found Alex’s car. On Thursday, 19 December 2013, the National Park Service deployed a helicopter searching for Alex and found him.
Alex is quoted as saying: “I’ve done many crazy hikes, but this one pretty much tops the bill.”
According to Forest Ranger John Broward: “What saved Alex is that he had a backcountry permit so we knew he was up there.” “He is extremely fit and he stayed calm. We’re all fortunate this had a happy ending.”
Alex survived his hike on Mauna Loa because of the following survival actions:
- Alex let authorities know where he was by filing a ‘Backcountry Permit.’
- Alex was in-shape and an experienced hiker
- Alex had a heavy backpack filled with survival gear
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See “How To Plan Your Outdoor Adventure!” and “12 Real Survival Tragedies You Have To Know!“
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Lost Ohio Tourist Survives 24 Hours in Colorado Mountains!
On Friday, 28 February 2014, Alex Maginnis and his family travelled from Ohio to Durango, Colorado to experience the ski slopes. After settling-in, Alex took off on his own.
Alex skiing into the white forested wilderness, he realized he was lost. “I just kind of found myself kind of in a little more desolate area, and then as I looked a little more. I realized no, I don’t see any tracks, no trail signs, there is nothing out here that I recognize.”
Alex continued skiing till the sun went down. All he had on him was his clothing (ski wear), 03 protein bars, a bottle of water and his cell phone.
Alex used his phone to send text messages to his wife, but as Alex skied deeper in the wilderness his cell phone service. Alex survived his 1st night in the Colorado wilderness. Saturday morning (01 March 2014), his phone was just barely in range to receive and send messages.
“Then, I felt a little buzz in my pocket and saw the text from my wife and [rescuers]. I still wasn’t getting bars, but tried to respond, saying, ‘This is where I am. I’m on the Hermosa Creek Trail,'” Maginnis told the newspaper. “By some miracle I had one little bar of service, and it looked like it had sent, and then my battery just died for good.”
Alex was rescued from these last 02 messages. Alex was found approximately 52-miles from where he and his family were lodging. Alex travelled 52-miles on his skis, travelling deeper and deeper into the wilderness. When rescues, he asked for water.
Alex survived his long 52-mile trek in the Colorado wilderness because of the following survival actions:
- Alex let his wife know where he was going
- Alex carried his cell phone
- Alex carried 03 protein bars and a bottle of water
- Alex sent a message giving his current location
Paperback Book—————Kindle E-Book
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03 Year Old Survives 11 Days In Unforgiving Siberian Forest!
On Tuesday, 29 July 2014, 03-year old Karina Chikitova with her pet dog wandered away her home village of Omon in the Olyokminsky district in the Sakha Republic of Siberia.
The dark side of the word Siberia is synonymous with misery, despair, great suffering, and painful killer cold weather. Siberia located in northeastern part of Russia, is absolutely gigantic. Just this one region is about the size of the United States. Sakha Republic at this time of year has the night temperatures in the range of 42-degrees Fahrenheit. To compliment this region of Siberia, predators like wolves and bears roamed this area.
Little Karina was believed to be following her father Rodion, who was on his way to another village where he was brought up and raised. Because there were no modern communications available, 04 days had already passed before family members realized Karina was missing. Then the search was on.
On Thursday, 07 August 2014, 09 days after she went missing, Karina’s pet dog returned to their village of Omon to get help. Karina’s pet dog led rescuers directly to Karina. On Saturday, 09 August 2014, 11 days after Karina wandered off into the Siberian wilderness, Karina was rescued and transported to a hospital for evaluation and medical attention. Karina survived 11 days in the Siberian wilderness. Karina survived the cold nights keeping warm in tall grass and sleeping with her dog. She ate wild berries and drank water from streams. Her travelling in tall grass hid her from the searching eyes of wolves and bears.
Karina survived 11-days in the Siberian wilderness by the following survival actions:
- Karina ate wild berries and drank water from creeks
- Karina travelled in tall grass that hid her movement from predators
- Karina slept in tall grass that help keep her warm
- Karina slept with her pet dog which helped keeping her warm at night
- Karina’s pet dog left Karina in the tall grass and went for help
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One In A Million Frozen Death Survival!
Here’s another True story you just have to know about – so you’ll never give-up on a fallen frozen comrade.
On 20 December 1980, 19-year old Jean Hilliard was driving home from her parent’s house near Lengby, Minnesota. It was late in the evening, near midnight when her car slid on the ice and off the road and became stuck at the edge of White Earth Indian Reservation.
Instead of waiting in the car for help she decided to walk the remaining distance to Wally Nelson’s home approximately 02-miles from her car. That night the area had not seen killer frigid temperatures in years. That evening and in the morning hours of 21 December 1980, the temperature was recorded at 22-degrees below zero (Fahrenheit).
Miss Hilliard was wearing cold weather gear orientated towards above freezing temperatures and not a temperature of 22-degrees below zero (Fahrenheit). She was noted as wearing her western boots, a regular coat, mittens,… She almost made it but collapsed only 15-feet from Wally Nelson’s door.
At approximately 0700 hours (7 am), Mr. Nelson leaving his home found Miss Hilliard on the frozen snow-covered ground and she was stiff as a board. Mr. Nelson immediately took action and loaded her solid stiff body diagonally in the back seat of his car and drove straight to the hospital in Fosston, Minnesota.
When Miss Hilliard arrived, at the hospital and initially treated by Dr. George Sather. The medical staff were unable to give her an intravenous feeding because the needles couldn’t penetrate her solid frozen skin. Her pulse could barely be registered but read only 12 beats a minute. It didn’t look good for Miss Hilliard. If she lived, the medical staff feared multiple amputations and worst yet, brain damage.
Miss Hilliard was wrapped in an electric heating pad for several hours. In a 01 in a million shot, after a few hours, Miss Hilliard began thawing out and started moving and became conscious. Dr. Sather is quoted as saying “I can’t explain why she’s alive. She was frozen stiff, literally. It’s a miracle. The body was cold, completely solid, just like a piece of meat out of the deep freeze.”
Dr. Sather may not be able to explain why Miss Jean Hilliard survived the impossible, but I think I can take a good guess. See
- Cold Water Diving Reflex – They’re Still Alive and
- Frozen Cat-Literally.
in my Survival Book below.
Paperback Book—————Kindle E-Book
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Women Avoids Her Abduction By Pulling Out Her Concealed Weapon!
August of 2014, Dinah Burns from Lancaster, OH was walking her dog near a school. Two unidentified men approached Dinah. One man ordered “You’re coming with us.”
One man with a raised baseball bat advanced on Dinah. Dinah pulled out her concealed weapon and pointed it towards her attackers. Both men stopped their advance, turned and ran.
Dinah has a license to carry a concealed weapon in the state of Ohio. Her actions no doubt saved her life.
Note: I believe everyone has the right to defend themselves, even a kid in kindergarten.
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NFL Football Player Lost Out At Sea Swims For His Life!
On Wednesday, 07 January 2014 in the evening hours, Rob Konrad survived where most would have quickly perished. Rob was alone on his boat and fishing at night. Rob Konrad, a former NFL player for the Miami Dolphins from 1999 – 2004.
Rob had his boat on auto-pilot when he fell overboard. His boat drifted away into the dark and Rob floated there in the ocean. Rob must have been in great shape and obviously knew how to swim. Rob swam for approximately 10 – 12 hours covering 09-miles. At the same time, his friends alerted authorities because he was overdue. Law enforcement officers from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office found Rob on Palm Beach around 4:40 a.m. Rob was reported to be suffering from hypothermia and was transported to a nearby hospital.
Rob survived 12 hours in the ocean by the following survival actions:
- Rob told friends where he was going and when he should return
- Rob was in-shape and knew how to swim
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See “How To Plan Your Outdoor Adventure!” and “12 Real Survival Tragedies You Have To Know!“
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Jet Skier Lost Out At Sea!
On Tuesday evening, 11 August 2015, 19-year old Dylan Gowan was reported missing after he failed to show up at Highlands, New Jersey. Dylan was on his Jet Ski, travelling from New York City to Highlands, New Jersey. His jet ski had mechanical problems and Dylan was forced to spend the night floating in the ocean waters off the coast.
Dylan’s jet ski started to sink so he attempted to swim to shore but the currents were taking him out to sea so Dylan swam to a nearby tower buoy. He climbed the tower buoy and stayed their till sunrise. At sunrise he made another attempt to swim to shore. After swimming for 25 – 30 minutes, the US Coast Guard spotted Dylan and pulled him out of the water.
Dylan was reported suffering from dehydration and hypothermia. Approximately 100 people were involved in the search for Dylan. Coast Guard spokesman Charles Rowe states ‘While survival in the water is based on many factors, it’s unlikely for anyone to survive in the water more than 24 hours.’
Dylan survived his time in the Atlantic Ocean by the following survival actions:
- Dylan told family members where he was going and when he should return
- Dylan knew how to swim.
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See “How To Plan Your Outdoor Adventure!” and “12 Real Survival Tragedies You Have To Know!“
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Hunter Goes Hand-To-Paw Combat With Ornery Bear!
On Sunday, 04 October 2015, bow hunter 26-year old Chase Dellwo was hunting with his brother near Great Falls, Montana. Chase was walking a dry creek bed attempting to drive elk to a ridge where his brother was waiting.
Chase made a chance contact with a grizzly bear. They were only 03-feet from each other. They both saw each other about the same time and the grizzly attacked Chase. The grizzly bit into Chase’s head and cut into his leg. Chase was no match against the grizzly, but he remembered something his grandmother told him about an article she read. So Chase tried it and it worked.
The grizzly bear stopped its attack and ran off. This is what Chase’s grandmother told Chase about the article she read about defending yourself against a bear attack. Animals like humans have a gag reflex. So what Chase did, he shoved his whole right-hand and right arm down the grizzly’s mouth. The grizzly didn’t like it and ran off.
Chase was able to evade to his brother’s location where Chase was eventually admitted to the emergency room at a local hospital.
Chase survived his bear attack by the following survival actions:
- Chase wasn’t overwhelmed with FEAR & PANIC and remembered the survival advice his grandmother told him
- Chase wasn’t overwhelmed with FEAR & PANIC and employed the ‘gag reflex’ defense
- Chase wasn’t overwhelmed with FEAR & PANIC and evaded to his brother’s location where he was transported to the emergency room.
Paperback Book—————Kindle E-Book
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Young Woman Thought To Be Dead, Walks Out Of The Alabama Wilderness!
This next survival story is a bit strange. I was unable to find exact dates but Lisa Theris survival occurs in July and August of 2017.
Lisa Theris, a radiology student was last seen on Tuesday, 18 July 2017. Approximately 28-days later, a woman driving near Union Springs, Alabama spotted a naked woman coming out of the woods. It was Lisa Theris. It is reported that Lisa may have lost up to 40-pounds during her 28-day survival in the Alabama wilderness. Lisa also suffered deep cuts, bug bites, poison ivy, sunburn,
Lisa Theris stated she survived by:
- Eating berries and mushrooms
- Drinking puddles of water
- She squeezed the rain water from her hair and drank it
- Used a natural Walking Stick
- Tried finding a road or person
Lisa Theris survived approximately 28-days in the Alabama wilderness. Police told ABC News they believe Theris survived in the woods, but say there’s a lot more to her story.
Paperback Book—————Kindle E-Book
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See “How To Plan Your Outdoor Adventure!” and “12 Real Survival Tragedies You Have To Know!“
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