The day by day notes he took were great and the mindset it took to stay sane was right up there with the survival mindset it takes to survive many other situations. Poon lim, the chinese sailor who survived 3 days stranded in. Wait and sea, the tale of poon lim most odd facts of. They found a man at sea but how he survived is shocking. Jun 08, 2018 incredible tales of survival at sea against the odds.
Poon lim, the chinese sailor who survived 3 days stranded. Poon lim had to tread water for two hours before finally spotting a raft credit. Poon lim was stranded at sea on a raft for 3 days on the atlantic. Whats the longest a person has survived being lost at sea. By drinking the water and eating the food, poon was able to survive while adrift at the sea. But even with all of our combined experience and knowledge, the story of poon lim is extremely hard to fathom. To this day, poon lim holds the guinness world record for survival at sea.
Poon lim is a world record holder in the unusual position of possessing a record that nobody, in their right mind, would ever want to break. To date no one has survived longer at sea on a life raft. This incredible triumph of survival, and human endurance, has gone down in the history books as the longest period anyone has survived in a life raft. Poon lim, a chinese seaman, held the worlds record as a sea survivor after floating alone on a life raft in the south atlantic for 3 days. Poon lim was a chinese sailor who survived 3 days alone in the south atlantic. So at some point, lim decided to catch a small shark, which he actually did. The british merchant ship he was on had just left cape town when it was torpedoed by a nazi uboat. The sole survivor was a second steward named poon lim, who, with no knowledge of the sea, managed to. For 6 decades, his was the longestrecorded tale of survival in the open ocean. The current record for survival at sea appears to be poon lim, a sailor whose ship was sunk about 750 miles off the coast of brazil by a german submarine during world war ii. Poon lim on his boat when being rescued after 3 days at sea.
To this day, lims 3 days of survival at sea remain the longest anyone has lived alone on a life raft in the ocean. Poon lim survived for 3 days adrift on the sea chinese native poon lim was a steward on a british ship during world war ii that was traveling from cape town to surinam. The ship was sinking rapidly and poon made the decision to jump over board. Born in hainan, china, the main island of a series of islands in the south china sea, poon lim attended school, unlike many other kids his age, thanks to his brothers sending money from their factory jobs. Poon lim s survival at sea lim floated in the ocean for a rough two hours till he came across a wooden raft. In 1981, he survived for 76 days adrift on the atlantic ocean in a liferaft. When poon lims ship was torpedoed by a uboat in the south atlantic in 1942, the seaman was the only survivor. For a long time, chinas poon lim held the record for most days spent adrift at sea on a raft, for 3 days between november 1942 and april 1943. Their story is compellingly told by steven callahan in the book capsized. Meet the chinese man who survived 3 days alone on a. In 1942 he spent over 4 months, 3 days, on a life raft in the south pacific ocean. Adrift poon lim survived 3 days at sea on a wooden raft.
Aboard the raft was a man who had survived 3 days at sea. Lims only hope was the life raft from ss ben lomond. The germans intercepted the boat 750 miles east of the amazon, and a pair of torpedoes sank the ship in two minutes. To this day, lim s 3 days of survival at sea remain the longest anyone has lived alone on a life raft in the ocean. He began by doing nothing, just eating, drinking and tanning. Simon lewis the true stories of captain william bligh, survivors of wwii uboat attacks, thor heyerdahl, poon lim, and ellen macarthur, who survived harrowing experiences at sea provided by publisher. For example, the book medical aspects of harsh environments chapter 29 shipboard medicine presents a summary of 163 life raft voyages. Just a few days after, they were torpedoed by a nazi uboat. Lomond lost at sea loyal crew map or compass mutineers mutiny at sea night norwegian explorer thor pacific ocean pitcairn islands poon lim found radio raft reach tahiti rescue at last ropes route to safety sailing records sea poon sea water set sail slept solo journey ss fort buckingham strong winds submarine.
Both the royal navy and the us navy teach poon lims survival techniques to their sailors. In 1942 he spent over 4 months, 3 days, on a life raft in the. Poon lim managed to get hold of a life jacket and jumped off the ship just as the explosion in the engine room occurred. Born in hainan, china, the largest of a series of islands in the south china sea, poon lim attended school, unlike. Sep 25, 2019 his story was told in numerous articles in the sailing press, as well as in several tvshows on survival. The book was republished by several publishers and is available online as a hardcover and an e. Callahan recounted his ordeal in the bestselling book adrift. When told no one had ever survived longer on a raft at sea, poon lim replied. When told of his record, he said, i hope no one will ever have to break it. Seventysix days lost at sea yesterday and have to say that it was a riveting book. When the explosion occurred, poon lim, in his cabin, put on his lifejacket and joined others at his boat station, but a wave carried him into the sea. Poon lim holds the world record for the longest survival on a life. Castaway that survived a record 438 days at sea is sued. In this book covering 3 days adrift, i never connected with poon lim and i felt the.
Maritime history and the sea survival handbook are full of extraordinary examples of survival. Out of her crew of 54, only poon lim, the 2nd steward, survived, and did so by living alone for 3 days on a raft before being picked up by a brazilian fishing boat. Poon lim survived in a raft at sea for 3 days by fishing, swimming for strength and drinking the blood of seagulls when rain was sparse. Poon lim was one of 11 lucky survivors, though he wasnt lucky enough. Chinese native poon lim was a steward on a british ship during world war ii that was traveling from cape town to surinam. Various shots of chinese merchant seaman mr poon lim coming ashore from a small lighter at british port. When told of the record, he said, i hope no one will ever have to break it.
Particularly well drawn is the portrait of poon lim, the survivor in question, who during his 3day ordeal is transformed from a passive and almost dimwitted lackey into a fairly resourceful, strongwilled person. Holding a world record for survival at sea is a recognition few would likely be excited about or set out to achieve. Mccunn, who interviewed poon lim in 1982, 40 years after this remarkable ordeal took place, presents an exciting account of how poon lim stayed alive from the time his ship was sunk until 3 days later when he was picked up by fishermen just off the coast of brazil. As a 25 yearold chinese seaman, poon lim was appointed second steward on a british merchant ship. He seems to have lived well after the war, and to have looked back on his ordeal as the great event of his life, rather than as the torture it must have been at the time. On november 23, 1942, german uboats torpedoed the british ship benlomond.
You see, poon lim had been stranded at sea for 3 days, a record for a lone human. Poon, barely alive, caught a bird and drank its blood to survive. It is the beginning of one of the most amazing sagas of survival at sea ever recorded. The ship left cape town with a crew of 55 on 23 november 1942. The germans intercepted the boat 750 miles east of the amazon, and a. The risk of death was 39% for those who drank seawater, compared to only 3% for those who did not drink seawater. In fact poon lim spent 3 days in the pacific ocean, a record of epic proportions. Poon lim the man who survived 3 days at sea on a wooden raft. Top 10 harrowing tales of people who survived months at sea. Poon lim the man who survived 3 days at sea on a wooden raft chinese native poon lim was a steward on a british ship during world war ii that was traveling from cape town to surinam. The sole survivor was a second steward named poon lim who, with no knowledge of the sea, managed to stay alive for 3 days on a small wooden raft. Survival at sea the thrilling story of steve callahan. It even had a couple of tins full of biscuits and chocolates, a bag of sugar lumps, a flashlight, two smoke pots, flares, and a fortyliter jug of water.
He was thankful for the meager supplies he found in the little life boat. A manual, and continued to sail until his death from cancer in 1991. He soon found an eightfoot 240 cm wooden raft with supplies. His journey was harrowing, terrifying, and truly depicts mans resilience, ability to survive, as well as the potential fortitude of our minds and bodies.
Poon lim floated around the atlantic ocean naked for about 2 hours and then he spotted a life boat and managed to pull himself aboard. Poon lim was awarded the empire medal by king george vi himself, and some of his cunning tricks made it to the royal navys manual of survival techniques. The true account of 3 days adrift audible audio edition. Sep 14, 2016 chinese native poon lim was a steward on a british ship during world war ii that was traveling from cape town to surinam. He still holds the guinness world record for survival at sea.
The carley raft was a small, square, floating platform commonly used by warships. When told this in 1943, poon lim responded, i hope no one will ever have to break that record. Old salt blog a virtual port of call for all those who love the sea a home for lovers of the sea, tellers of tales, for sailors and dreamers. In one of the interviews for the book, poon told the author. Finally rescued at the mouth of the amazon river, poon was hailed as the worlds champion survivor. Sole survivor, based on three years of interviews with poon, reconstructs his remarkable ordeal. Dec 14, 20 after the war, lim emigrated to the united states. Many things could be said about poon lims ensuing journey, short is not one of them. Poon lim lived to the age of 72, passing away in 1991.
The castaway who survived on a wooden raft for 3 days. Nov 24, 2018 the ship at that time was 6 days away from its destination, approximately 1200 km east of the amazon river. He could hardly swim and had little knowledge of the sea. Oct 31, 2015 to this day, lims 3 days of survival at sea remain the longest anyone has lived alone on a life raft in the ocean. Lim was the only man of the 53 on board to survive the attack. The story, as youd expect, is an emotional rollercoaster. Brazilian fishermen spotted a raft adrift off the coast of brazil in 1943.
He found himself on a wooden raft with sufficient supplies to sustain him for 40 days. Until that point, no one had spent so many days lost at sea and made it back alive. Poon was granted numerous rewards, and a book was written that fictionalized his. Poon lim holds the dubious world record of longest survival at sea, a record im certain no one wants to attempt to break. Poon lim holds the world record for time spent surviving on a life raft as a castaway adrift at sea. For a long time, chinas poon lim held the record for most days spent adrift at sea on a raft, for 3 days between november 1942 and april. Adrift, 76 days lost at sea survival monkey forums. On november 23, 1942, german uboats torpedoed the british ship benlomond, and it sank in the atlantic in two minutes. You see, poon lim had been stranded at sea for 3 days, a record for a. This is pretty much a what you see is what you get sort of book. Poon lim found radio raft reach tahiti rescue at last ropes route to safety sailing records sea poon sea water set sail slept solo. Poon lim, a chinese merchant seaman, survived for 3 days on a wooden life raft in the south atlantic in 1942, the only survivor of the steamer, benlomond.
Us navy after throwing himself overboard, poon lim had to tread water for two hours before he finally spotted a life raft, where he found biscuits, a torch, some flares and a supply of fresh water. Feb 26, 2018 if you happen to like our videos and have a few bucks to spare to support our efforts, check out our patreon page where weve got a variety of perks for our patrons, including simons voice on. Airplane crash survival american literature asian americans bemis, polly, chinese americans chinese american women mccunn, ruthanne lum new york statebuffalo poon, lim shipwreck survival survival survival at sea world war 19391945. Luckily for him, he found a floating eightfoot square wooden raft. He would hold the world record for time spent surviving as a castaway adrift at sea. It stayed on the new york times best seller list for more than 36 weeks. Hms friday the longest survival at sea by mark lukach. He described his adventure in the bestselling book adrift.
Sole survivor, based on three years of interviews with poon and his family, reconstructs his remarkable ordeal and the survival techniques that earned him world celebrity and a listing in the guiness book of world records. Poon lim, who survived for 3 days adrift in the atlantic. As the ship sank poon jumped overboard while all remaining people died. The story was revisited in his son douglas book the last voyage of the lucette. Here are a few of my favourites a chinese sailor called poon lim working as a second steward in the ss ben lomond survived alone on a wooden raft for 3 days after his ship, sailing alone and unescorted, was torpedoed in the south atlantic on. Im a huge fan of survival tales, and this is one of those which defies belief. When german uboats sank the british ben lomond in 1942, its sole survivor was a second steward, poon lim, who managed to stay alive for 3 days on a wooden raft. To this day, he still holds the official record for longest time for a lone person to survive being adrift at sea in a life raft. Record holder for longest time spent adrift at sea. Poon, a 24yearold steward aboard the ship, found himself alone on the raft. During world war two, a lone chinese man named poon lim survived on a life raft for 3 days. He climbed aboard the 8 by 8 inches raft, which later turned out to be a carley raft life raft. Jose the morning afterhis arrival on ebon epoon, weary and worn out. Poon lim, surviving a record 3 days at sea i hope no.
Photo made on request of the us navy for its survival training. Sep 21, 2016 9 fortunate souls who survived being lost at sea. When told no one had ever survived longer on a raft at sea, poon lim replied, i hope no one will ever have to break that record. Aug 02, 2017 their story is compellingly told by steven callahan in the book capsized. Castaway that survived a record 438 days at sea is sued for. Robertson, who had been keeping a journal in case they were rescued, recounted the ordeal in the 1973 book survive the savage sea, on which the 1991 film of the same name was based. Poon lim survived for 3 days after the british merchant navy vessel he was travelling on was sunk by a german uboat, in november 1942, leaving him stranded in the south atlantic ocean. On april 5th, 1943, poon lim a castaway was rescued by three brazilian fisherman after surviving 3 days in the south atlantic aboard a makeshift wooden raft. But he learned how to shape a fish hook from a piece of. The sole survivor was a second steward named poon lim, who, with no knowledge of the sea, managed to stay alive for 3 days on a small wooden raft. Lim floated in the ocean for a rough two hours till he came across a wooden raft. Poon lim sitting on a reconstruction of his raft, built at the request of the u. May 02, 2017 incredible stories of survival at sea.