Stories about surviving against all odds often make it all over the media. You may have recently read about some cases of people having survived in the cold for a few days, or managing to fend off assailants. However, there are some stories that border on the impossible, and you can hardly imagine someone actually going through the depicted events in real life.
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1. Annette Herfkens
Few people ever make it alive out of a plane crash. One of these amazingly lucky passengers was Annette Herfkens, who, after the Vietnam Airlines plane she was on hit a mountain, managed to survive the crash. Not only that, but she kept herself alive for 8 days drinking rainwater while being trapped in the plane’s fuselage!
Annette Herfkens is a Dutch woman who survived a plane crash in Vietnam in 1992. She was the only survivor of the crash, which killed all other passengers and crew members. After the crash, she was trapped in the plane’s fuselage for 8 days, during which time she managed to survive by drinking rainwater. During that time, she was able to keep her spirits up and stay positive, which helped her to survive. After 8 days, she was rescued by a search party and taken to a hospital. Her survival is a testament to the power of the human spirit and her incredible will to live.
2. Lyndi Harding’s Skydiving Crash
Surviving a plane crash is definitely one of the most incredible survival stories, but free falling 4,000 feet at 70 mph and surviving when your parachute didn’t open pretty much tops it all! That’s what happened to skydiving fanatic Lyndi Harding - she got away with just a few broken bones and a punctured lung.
Lyndi Harding's skydiving crash occurred in 2004 in Perris, California. She was 29 years old at the time and had been an experienced skydiver for over 6 years. During her jump, her main parachute failed to open properly, causing her to free fall for 4,000 feet at a speed of 70 mph. Miraculously, she survived the impact with only a few broken bones and a punctured lung. She credits her survival to her quick thinking and training, as she was able to deploy her reserve parachute just seconds before hitting the ground. Despite her injuries, she continued to skydive and even became a certified instructor. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of proper training and staying calm in dangerous situations.
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3. John Colter’s Encounter with Indians
John Colter was an American trapper who was captured by Blackfeet Indians in 1808 and forced to participate in a hunt – as the game. After killing a few of his Native American pursuers to survive, he walked for 200 miles to reach the safety of Fort Raymond.
John Colter was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and is remembered for his incredible survival story. After being captured by Blackfeet Indians in 1808, Colter was forced to take part in a hunt as the game. He managed to kill a few of his pursuers and walked over 200 miles to safety at Fort Raymond. His determination and bravery against all odds is an inspiring story of survival and resilience, making him a hero of the American West. Colter's story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and serves as a reminder that with courage and ingenuity, anything is possible.
4. Juliane Koepcke
Juliane Koepcke was aboard LANSA Flight 508 when the plane got torn apart above the Peruvian jungle. She fell and crashed in the jungle below while still being strapped to her seat. In a stroke of luck, she survived with only a minor fracture, and after 9 days in the wild following a nearby stream, she was eventually rescued.
Juliane Koepcke's survival story is nothing short of miraculous. After the plane she was on crashed in the Peruvian jungle, she fell from the sky and landed in the dense, unforgiving terrain. Despite being strapped to her seat, she miraculously survived the fall with only a minor fracture. With no food or supplies, she followed a nearby stream for 9 days until she was finally rescued. It was later discovered that she had also contracted a severe eye infection during her time in the jungle. Despite this, she went on to become a renowned biologist and even wrote a book about her harrowing experience. Her story continues to inspire and amaze people around the world.
5. Harrison Okene – Trapped for 3 Days
One of the most amazing survival stories ever documented happened in 2013, when Harrison Okene was trapped for 3 days at the bottom of the ocean, breathing a small pocket of air.
Harrison Okene’s miraculous survival story is one of the most incredible tales of human endurance ever documented. In 2013, the Nigerian cook was on board a tugboat that capsized in the Atlantic Ocean. Despite the odds, Okene was able to find an air pocket in the overturned boat, enabling him to survive for three days underwater.
Rescuers initially believed that all 12 members of the crew had perished in the accident. However, after hearing tapping noises coming from inside the overturned vessel, they sent down a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to investigate. To their amazement, they discovered Okene alive inside the boat.
The air pocket Okene had found was the size of a bathtub and he had to remain submerged in water up to his neck for the entire duration of his ordeal. He was able to survive by drinking small amounts of Coca-Cola and urine, and eating biscuit crumbs from the boat’s galley.
Okene was eventually rescued by divers who had to cut a hole in the boat to free him. After being rescued, he was taken to a decompression chamber to help him adjust to the pressure change.
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6. Dougal Robertson and His Family
While sailing around the world with his family, Dougal Robertson’s schooner sank about 200 miles off the Galapagos Island. They survived in an inflatable raft, then in a small dinghy, for 38 days before they were finally rescued.
Dougal Robertson and his family's incredible survival story is a testament to the human spirit and determination to survive. After their schooner sank, they were left stranded in the middle of the ocean for 38 days, facing harsh weather conditions and limited supplies. Despite these challenges, they managed to stay alive by rationing their food and water, fishing for food, and using a makeshift sail to navigate towards potential rescue. Their story of resilience and courage has inspired many, especially women, to never give up in the face of adversity. It serves as a reminder that with perseverance and a strong will, anything is possible.
7. Jan Baalsrud – Survival in the Norwegian Tundra
After his mission of helping the resistance in Nazi-occupied Norway fell, Jan Baalsrud found himself on the run from Nazi troops, nearly naked and with a serious bullet wound, trying to make his way through the Norwegian tundra. After taking shelter in a friendly arctic village, he managed to find his way back to England.
Baalsrud's harrowing journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Despite harsh winter conditions and mounting injuries, his determination and the support of the local population—who risked their own lives to help him—were crucial in his survival. His story not only highlights personal courage but also the incredible solidarity of the Norwegians under occupation. Baalsrud's escape across the snow-capped mountains, evading capture for weeks, remains one of the most inspirational tales of endurance and friendship in the face of unimaginable adversity.
8. Lorna Baillie’s near Death Experience
Lorna Baillie, a former auxiliary nurse, suffered a massive heart attack, doctors claiming she was beyond any kind of help. 45 minutes after Lorna’s family was called to say goodbye, she was rushed to intensive care and eventually she made a full - and inexplicable - recovery.
Lorna Baillie’s story is one of the most incredible survival stories of people who made it against all odds. Lorna, a former auxiliary nurse, suffered a massive heart attack and was given up for dead by doctors. However, 45 minutes after her family was called to say goodbye, she was rushed to intensive care and eventually made a full and inexplicable recovery.
The odds of surviving a massive heart attack are incredibly slim and yet Lorna was able to beat them. After her recovery, Lorna decided to take control of her own life and make a difference. She began to work with the British Heart Foundation to help raise awareness of heart health and to encourage people to take the necessary steps to reduce their risk of heart attack.
Lorna’s story is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the strength of the human body. Her story has inspired many people to take control of their own health and to make the necessary lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of heart attack. Lorna’s story is a reminder that even in the face of insurmountable odds, we can still find a way to survive and thrive.
9. Wenseslao Moguel – Surviving a Firing Squad
Wenny Moguel’s is quite probably one of the most amazing stories you are likely to hear. Captured in 1915 as a Mexican revolutionary and sentenced to death by firing squad, he was shot eight times, then once more from close range – through the head. Incredibly, he survived and went on to live a long life following his ordeal!
Throughout history, a lot more stories about survival have surfaced, some well-documented, while others being scarcely believable. Do you know of any that should have made it on my list?
Sources:
list25.com
mirror.co.uk
washingtonpost.com
livescience.com
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