The cynic in me has doubts about the veracity of the story however. Those interactions with the other fisherman paint him nearly as a saint in what would be an incredibly stressful and tension fraying situation. Every anecdote was about him keeping the other guy alive. He left a daughter and wife behind but used his money to buy beer for other fishermen, not exactly selfless behavior. We'll never know the truth though.
What a nightmare, adrift at sea for a year and a companion dying like that. To think he was within reach of help yet it didn't happen until he made landfall in another country. He certainly kept himself sane in his imagination and his will to live is astronomical.
He's a badass dude that had a lot of will to live. His partner dying and boats passing by my God man. It's always storming out there in the sea I mean that just blows my mind. One hell of a dude he can share his story with a lot of people and help a lot of people. I bet he's a very humble dude. My daddy run a shrimp boat with a shrimp boat captain for a lot of years and Gulf shores Alabama and I used to work with him on the boat I used to shrimp my self and in a small boat like that guy let me tell you it gets rough in the bay like Mobile Bay so I can only imagine out in the big wide ocean.👃🚢⛴️
@@lucyterrier7905Lmao... Yes they DID. When their ship sank and the men were a drift at sea they would draw lots or straws as you've probably heard It called and here's what would happen... If you drew the shortest one then one of two things would happen. You would either Immediately be killed or would die naturally but usually you were killed. The others would eat you. This would continue until you were either rescued or only one of you remained. The following Is taken from Wiki on Owen Coffin. He was a 18 year old whaler on the Essex... During January 1821, the near-starved survivors began to eat the bodies of those who had died. When even this resource ran out, the four men remaining in Pollard's boat agreed to draw straws to decide which of them should be killed, lest all four die of starvation. Coffin lost in the lottery, and was shot and eaten. The captain volunteered to take Coffin's place but Coffin refused, saying it was his 'right' to do so that the others might live.
This is why a mirror is considered to be the most valuable piece of equipment for survival at sea. No matter how small your footprint is, you can flash the sun at just about anything.
What a remarkable survival story. The part about Jose decorating his hair with feathers was very touching. He found beauty in an otherwise bleak situation. I’m so glad he made it back to his family.
Good job, in one comment you managed to change your own story.. What does the vastness of the sea have to do with the survival? No please, explain.. May as well say "this is the best survival story I've heard. Reminds you how chickens fuck"
That is unimaginable to me. I've seen quite a few Survival at sea movies but to be stranded out there for over a year, and having ships pass by without seeing you, and then have one actually see you but ignore you... I can't even comprehend the feelings. Oh and screw that journalist who posed as a doctor to get an interview. Some journalists have no respect.
His odds of survival were damn near zero only a week after being stranded at sea and yet he crossed the entire Pacific Ocean and was out there well over a year. I can't believe I've never heard this story before so thanks for sharing it with us!
@@airplanemaniacgaming7877yes, I was wondering, when he was lost at sea, how long had it been since he left his family? Did he ever plan to see them again?
I was at a tattoo appointment when my artist spotted me watching a true crime channel and we got to talk about the topic. She ended up recommending me this channel and on my way home I binged almost all of your videos! Almost 3 years later you're still one of my absolute favourite channels on youtube, keep rocking man, your topics and documentaries never miss 😩👌🏻
I live in Italy, where few people are able to speak English, so in high school I was the weird one that consumed English content on youtube. When my young teacher decided to show us fascinating horror's video about black friday I was like: "😃😃😃😃😃 I can't believe that's happening!!!" Years later I'm still here waiting for the uploads Grazie Antea ❤️
It's amazing how both were able to keep each other alive and mentally sane for so long. If they both would have survived, I can only imagine the bond they would have both had.
When you showed the distance he'd traveled before making landfall again my jaw dropped. Truly wild. I'm glad he survived and is believed to be doing well.
Which is the stupidest thing. They were gone over a year. Even if he did eat the guy, that would have been only a couple- few days of food, at best, before anything left started to spoil and couldn't be eaten. It would have made no difference whatsoever in his survival or the shape he was found in.
What a horrible thing to do to someone. He suffered enough seeing his coworker die, and being lost at sea for over a year. Then get interrogated by immigration officials who think you are lying. You finally get back home, tell his family what happened to him, so they can have closure. And then - BAM! we are taking you to court and accusing you of cannibalism. Give us a million bucks you don't have! People can be so cruel.
@@Whatlander Just be aware that you are basing this assumption on him being truthful when telling such a tale. He may have held out on eating his bird friend, or he may not at all. All we have is his version of events. I think his human companion didn't go out as peacefully as he told the family at the very least. He may have eaten him too. Hell, he may have straight up murdered him to have more food for himself. We will never know. But what is true regardless of what actually happened is that it was a horrible ordeal that would turn most of us into animals so i genuinely do not blame him if he did any of those things.
Wow. Reminds me of the book "Life of Pi". Oddly, my biggest surprise is that he didn't canniballize his dead friend. It's the sort of situation where he'd have had moral license to, but, if they never talked about it, people are incredibly kind to those they are stranded with, often to their detriment. He must have tried everything reasonable to get his friend to eat, but a person losing sanity might just not listen. Incredible that either guy could come through that. I wonder how much extra fuss it would be for all ships of any kind to have electronic systems to alert them about this or that small floating patch that might be a castaway. It would hardly ever be useful, but the few times it would be might be worth the effort. All those ships missed them . . .All those ships.
It’s a very striking fact, all those ships that sailed by and never saw or reported the boat. It really shows that today shipping is just as if all the big ships are now robots, sailing on preprogrammed courses, not caring a bit about humans crossing their path.
@wxwaxone Bro, do you have any idea about how MASSIVE transport ships are? And how VAST the ocean is? Plus they also spend weeks or months at sea with a relatively small crew, you just can't have eyes all around the ship searching the horizon 24/7. Spotting a small lightly colored boat lost among the waves would require an immense amount of luck. There's a reason why life rafts are orange and carry signaling mirrors as well as flares and radar reflectors.
@@wxwaxone look up some videos, it is incredibly hard to spot something so small even if you know that you should be looking for something, not to talk about randomly stumbling into a boat out on the open sea. The part where people were waving to him is quite weird though, I don't think they were near any land at that point that would make it reasonable to assume that a small boat like that is out on the sea without any assistance. That ship should've checked on him to see if he was there voluntarily or not. (I believe even people attempting guiness records and such have ships accompanying them, but not 100% sure.)
Possibly one of my favorite stories on this channel. The tenacity to live is admirable, truly. His earliest heartbreaking trial of leaving his wife and child due to threat of violence seemed almost unbearable to me. I can't even fathom 14 months adrift in the ocean. May God grant peace and love to him and his family.
As a kid i remember reading the book 'Adrift' by Stephen Callahan, a yachtsman who spent 76 days floating in the open Atlantic, but at least he was in a life raft and had more supplies/ provisions that he was able to retrieve from his boat before it sank. Even so, his tale was nightmarish and stayed with me.14 months with none of that just seems impossible.
I remember when this was on the news. It feels like it was much more recent though… or I’m just getting old. I think most of us would go a little mad without our family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and even just the complete strangers we interact with during the course of our usual routine. Certainly without the weird and wonderful company afforded by the online world. No numbing TikToks, no Reddit or FB or other social platforms, no online friends. I can’t even fall asleep without watching YT videos, mostly because I don’t want to be left alone with the contents of my own unforgiving mind for even the short timespan between wakefulness and sleep! As solitary as I am, I would lose my mind or end my existence if I ended up in this situation. The loneliness, the guilt over not being there to care for and protect my family, and the vast and mind-crushing emptiness of the open ocean would set me adrift in yet another way entirely. No, the type of person that can survive all this man did is truly rare, truly remarkable, and possessed of a force of will far stronger than the vast majority of us will ever even glimpse. A force of will that is truly a wonder in our world.
@@juliajs1752 Malnutrition is not just body fat. Your body needs a whole slew of resources to stay healthy. Yes, he was still pretty chubby in the pictures, because fish contain a lot of fat and a lot of D-Vitamins, but not really a whole lot else. You can be sure he was incredibly low on vitamin A, all of the Vitamin Bs (Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pyridoxine, Folic Acid, Cobalamin, Biotin & Pantothenic Acid), Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Iron, Zink, Copper, Manganese, Selenium, Chrome, Molybdenum & Iodine. Probably also Calcium as fish bones aren't that rich in Calcium and a lot of other important resources for the body as all those I just listed are those listed on a standard vitamin pill bottle for adults. Vitamins that are only meant to serve as a supplement to normal food, meaning there's likely more than what I've just listed
@@juliajs1752 yeah I'm a bit doubtful too , he was scorced by sunlight for 1 year and still white , also chubby , not like the other survival story ive ever seen
This type of story is a favorite of mine. There are many tales of people surviving ungodly amounts of time at sea under various conditions - physical survival being as important as mental/emotional
This has to be one of the most incredible acts of survival I've ever seen & heard. Goes to show that mother nature isn't to be messed with & also never to be underestimated. Also no matter how short the trip may be always be well prepared cos at sea anything can happen in a blink of an eye
@@vincedibona4687 "What a fascinating story, 14 months...my word" Is basically the comment you left on this video, too. So, you're either sexist or stupid, because Tilly is saying the same thing you said. Except she was born with a vagina, and you've got gritty gritty sand in yours dude 🤣
It’s almost like the story of Louis Zamperini and how he and two of his fellow airmen were adrift in the pacific after their plane crashed during ww2. They endured days in the sun with no protection, the threat of sharks, a Japanese plane shooting up their raft, the youngest airman passing from starvation. They made it to Japan where they spent the remainder of the war as prisoners of war.
Having spent 13 years in the Navy this is an almost unbelievable story of will from my perspective. No doubt he endured many more storms than just the initial one. The sea is very unforgiving. He was spared for a purpose for sure.
What an incredible will to live that man had. The only reason he survived was his willingness to eat anything, was a skilled fisherman, and his ability to use his imagination to escape the monotony and bleakness of his situation. I am sure that one of the things he must have savoured upon returning to civilization, was a pot of coffee and food that wasn't seafood/bird or raw. I can imagine when he was able to eat again, he cherished each mouthful and savoured the tastes. You can imagine how wonderful it felt to be on dry land and have the comfort of a bed and an armchair along with the company of his loved ones. People like this give inspiration and are very humbling when you compare your so-called big problems to what he endured. I hope his life was filled with contentment from then on.
I've see several youtube videos on this subject. But I think yours has the most detail. I had no idea he did push up, gained weight, or got barnacles under his boat. I didn't even know he ate jellyfish
Not even a minute after this was uploaded and I get to watch! Normally I have to wait hours until I finish work. Thanks for the great content! This was a fascinating story
Such an amazing story. As sad as it was that his companion passed away, I was willing this man to survive. One of the best videos I've ever watched on FH
A podcast I listen to just did this story. Apparently lots of people did not believe him. The sad part is that other people have had this happened like Zamparini and he was described as a hero. I can’t imagine going through that only to have people doubt you.
I never get tired of this story. He's an exceptional man. Not many would survive that and keep their mind even somewhat intact. He's a testament to the importance of having a routine and to do what you can to keep a positive mindset in tough situations. Without his mentality, he wouldn't be here today, and without his routine he wouldn't have kept his mentality. By keeping himself focused on collecting water, food and training he made it bearable. Every time I hear this story I get just as infuriated as I got the first time I heard about the reporter-asshole who faked being a doctor to get an interview. That's just so unbelievably unethical and disgusting. Where's the empathy?! Hadn't he been through enough?! The media can be horrible to people who really don't deserve it.
The thought of what his life was like at sea for those 14 months, it seems impossible for me to believe that anybody could possibly survive for that long living that way. If this story is real, then his survival is undoubtedly one of the greatest feats in documented human history. And it happened completely by accident.
I dont really have any words for this. What a tale of endurance, tenacity and the drive to carry on! Both of them did something many could never do, surviving in the largest ocean on the planet. Its so sad that both of them couldnt go home, but the respect he gave his dead friend and his family is superb
I can't imagine how disheartening it must've been to be stranded at sea for as long as he was, finally crossing paths with 20 container ships, not a single person on any of those ships see you, then eventually come across another ship, this time several people see you, but nobody even makes an attempt to bring you aboard or let alone slow the ship down to investigate further. That would've been soul crushing.
Extraordinary! When I think about our far ancient ancestors, the ones who ventured across mountains and over ice fields and through the oceans into new lands, I am reminded that the human will to survive is still with us. This is how we always were. Although this mis-adventure was extreme, we can find many other examples of humans overcoming insurmountable odds to survive in recent years. Thankfully, the internet is bringing about many of these stories. And they are all an inspiration. For these men in this story, both sad and joyous at the same time, I can't imagine the sorrow of having to bury his friend at sea after trying to keep him alive for so long. I hope they are all ok today.
Jose had an extremely strong mind and will to live...amazing!! Really puts things in perspective when we stress out over the small stuff lol. The fact that he was already an experienced deep sea fisherman undoubtedly helped him survive.
I've read about this story before but I didn't know what the boat looked like. I imagined it had a cover or some rest area. It didn't. Him and his companion lived at sea for an insane amount of time with almost nothing. It's truly insane.
Imagine being with one or zero people for a year then having everyone in the room wanting to talk to you everywhere you go. Must have been overwhelming as hell.
The ability to survive this is amazing. The mental part would, after seeing multiple ships pass and not see him, would be devastating. Thinking it's come to an end just to realize that you're still alone and struggling to survive.
A terrible ordeal, although I can't understand at all why someone would set off out to sea without oars or an anchor. Reminds me of Steven Callahan. He was better prepared though, being an experienced solitary sailor, although he lost his survival kit when his boat sank. I highly recommend his book "Adrift: Seventy-six days lost at sea". Very captivating.
One of the most courageous and strong individuals that I have ever heard of and I am humbled. I am going to try to quit feeling sorry for myself and my current situation.✌🏻😿♿
What a living legend. This was such a fantastic horrifying tale. The fact that he made it back home to his family with a renewed resolve to stay with them, after everything he had experienced, is nothing short of inspiring.
Every once and a while I think about the possibility that there could be someone out on the ocean stuck on a life raft and lost, while I’m sitting in my apartment safe and happy…..that gives me crazy anxiety. 😟
It’s amazing to me that he got so good at catching live animals that that’s how he survived for over a year. And he basically had to wait for all of the animals to come to him, he couldn’t even go hunt them. Incredible.
I just recently listened to the audiobook of 438 Days, so when I saw this video I suspected and hoped it'd be about Salvador Alvarenga! It's an incredible saga. I highly encourage anyone to read the book if you liked this video and/or generally enjoy survival stories.
I was awake at 5am awaiting the next story to drop, I stayed up until 6am and then I shut my eyes... I see you dropped this FH story at 6:15am!!! At least I got to see it at 8am!!
Over a year at sea in such a small boat. The fact he was able to survive that whole time takes an exemplary amount of will.
A green lantern among us
The cynic in me has doubts about the veracity of the story however. Those interactions with the other fisherman paint him nearly as a saint in what would be an incredibly stressful and tension fraying situation. Every anecdote was about him keeping the other guy alive. He left a daughter and wife behind but used his money to buy beer for other fishermen, not exactly selfless behavior. We'll never know the truth though.
@@-Bill. Definitely, there is more to the story than has been told.
WILSON
Paco was probably part of a El Salvadorian street gang. Hence the "bar fights and violence" crap at the beginning of the video.
“In my mind I brewed coffee every morning” really got me. The human mind is truly incredible.
Not mine. I'd be f**ked 😂
Reality is truly what we make of it.
Very inspiring indeed 🌟
This is the same human mind that thought it would be a good idea to take a tiny boat out into the ocean without an anchor
"Healthy, happy, and immensely grateful to be alive."
I like that.
Wouldn't it be nice if everyone felt like that?
Better than most of us on the main land
Convalescent is also a nice word for the vocabulary.
Seriously, he deserves a happy, chill life after that ordeal. 👍
I would never want to be near the ocean again after an ordeal like that. I'd settle in a landlocked region and start raising goats and sheep.
Hell yes.
Ironically, this is a setup for an even more fascinating horror episode
@@adamellsworth3732 Yeah, people get lost in the mountains or woods all the time.
I wouldn’t get in any body of water deeper than a bathtub!
You leave those sheep alone SIR!
What a nightmare, adrift at sea for a year and a companion dying like that. To think he was within reach of help yet it didn't happen until he made landfall in another country. He certainly kept himself sane in his imagination and his will to live is astronomical.
In the old days when sailors were stranded on a life boat, they would eat the body when one of them died. 😮
@@joekulik999 They did not.
He's a badass dude that had a lot of will to live. His partner dying and boats passing by my God man. It's always storming out there in the sea I mean that just blows my mind. One hell of a dude he can share his story with a lot of people and help a lot of people. I bet he's a very humble dude. My daddy run a shrimp boat with a shrimp boat captain for a lot of years and Gulf shores Alabama and I used to work with him on the boat I used to shrimp my self and in a
small boat like that guy let me tell you it gets rough in the bay like Mobile Bay so I can only imagine out in the big wide ocean.👃🚢⛴️
@@lucyterrier7905Lmao... Yes they DID. When their ship sank and the men were a drift at sea they would draw lots or straws as you've probably heard It called and here's what would happen... If you drew the shortest one then one of two things would happen. You would either Immediately be killed or would die naturally but usually you were killed. The others would eat you. This would continue until you were either rescued or only one of you remained. The following Is taken from Wiki on Owen Coffin. He was a 18 year old whaler on the Essex...
During January 1821, the near-starved survivors began to eat the bodies of those who had died. When even this resource ran out, the four men remaining in Pollard's boat agreed to draw straws to decide which of them should be killed, lest all four die of starvation. Coffin lost in the lottery, and was shot and eaten. The captain volunteered to take Coffin's place but Coffin refused, saying it was his 'right' to do so that the others might live.
@@lucyterrier7905There were a few times it happened, look up "custom of the sea"
This is why a mirror is considered to be the most valuable piece of equipment for survival at sea. No matter how small your footprint is, you can flash the sun at just about anything.
What a remarkable survival story. The part about Jose decorating his hair with feathers was very touching. He found beauty in an otherwise bleak situation. I’m so glad he made it back to his family.
Sea stories are the best.😉
I think this is the most incredible survival story I've ever heard. Reminds you just how vast the sea is.
Agreed! Check also the story of Chris Lemons, it is incredible.
Good job, in one comment you managed to change your own story..
What does the vastness of the sea have to do with the survival?
No please, explain..
May as well say "this is the best survival story I've heard. Reminds you how chickens fuck"
@@mr_coboltsget a hobby loser
@@mr_cobolts The 'insights' part is ironic I see. Grow up.
Ever heard of Cast Away featuring Academy Award winner Tom Hanks?
That is unimaginable to me. I've seen quite a few Survival at sea movies but to be stranded out there for over a year, and having ships pass by without seeing you, and then have one actually see you but ignore you... I can't even comprehend the feelings.
Oh and screw that journalist who posed as a doctor to get an interview. Some journalists have no respect.
His odds of survival were damn near zero only a week after being stranded at sea and yet he crossed the entire Pacific Ocean and was out there well over a year. I can't believe I've never heard this story before so thanks for sharing it with us!
The level of patience required to stay calm and composed under such circumstances is worthy of admiration
I honestly would’ve went insane after the first couple days I would’ve even have thought of any of that
I think I could stay calm for a while, but then panic because I am diabetic and I know that would be how I meet my end.
Until you remind yourself he abandoned his wife and family.
@@MarkJoseph81 probably because the violent revenge things were putting his family at risk, so he ran away to protect them. That's my theory.
@@airplanemaniacgaming7877yes, I was wondering, when he was lost at sea, how long had it been since he left his family? Did he ever plan to see them again?
I was at a tattoo appointment when my artist spotted me watching a true crime channel and we got to talk about the topic. She ended up recommending me this channel and on my way home I binged almost all of your videos! Almost 3 years later you're still one of my absolute favourite channels on youtube, keep rocking man, your topics and documentaries never miss 😩👌🏻
I live in Italy, where few people are able to speak English, so in high school I was the weird one that consumed English content on youtube.
When my young teacher decided to show us fascinating horror's video about black friday I was like: "😃😃😃😃😃 I can't believe that's happening!!!"
Years later I'm still here waiting for the uploads
Grazie Antea ❤️
😏✊😩
It's amazing how both were able to keep each other alive and mentally sane for so long. If they both would have survived, I can only imagine the bond they would have both had.
They’d either end up with a bond stronger than that of friends or even family….. or they’d end up hating each other’s guts.
@altrego100 true on your last point. The one that died probably hate him for going out when knowing the weather was going to get bad.
@@ChaosMagnet Maybe not hate, but maybe not want to see each other because it would remind them of their ordeal out at sea.
@@ChaosMagnetI think it would be both. A love and hate relationship.
This is absolutely insane. 438 days??? I was expecting this story to be like 2 weeks start to finish. Most people are lucky to survive a week adrift
And in the end, Cordoba's family still tried to sue Alvarenga, acusing him of cannibalism in order to survive. True story!
Pretty messed up of them to do that.
Even if he had I wouldn't blame him lol
Do they assume he killed Cordoba to eat him or that he ate him after he died?? Either way how did they come up with that...
with all due respect, this is not completely out of the realm of possibility!!
@@marcosdepaula3593
Of course not, but how do they know?
When you showed the distance he'd traveled before making landfall again my jaw dropped. Truly wild. I'm glad he survived and is believed to be doing well.
Drifting across an entire ocean for over a year is truly terrifying. I'm glad that he made it back home alive and well.
This was a great book too. “438 days” - amazing story
You’re the only RUclipsr I consistantly watch anymore. Such a good story teller. Dont stop the great content!
Absolutely, upload after upload I watch. Every video is so well made
Agreed!
Another good RUclipsr is "Internet Historian" Also a very good storyteller!
@@qx4n9e1xphe makes video once a year😂
The Why Files is a fantastic channel. Trust me you won't be disappointed. ✌😊
According to the Wikipedia article, Cordoba’s family sued him for $1,000,000 accusing Alvarenga of cannibalism in order to survive. How horrible!
Which is the stupidest thing. They were gone over a year. Even if he did eat the guy, that would have been only a couple- few days of food, at best, before anything left started to spoil and couldn't be eaten. It would have made no difference whatsoever in his survival or the shape he was found in.
@@mommy2libras Considering how long he held out on eating his pet bird, yeah, eating his only human companion feels like quite a stretch.
What a horrible thing to do to someone. He suffered enough seeing his coworker die, and being lost at sea for over a year. Then get interrogated by immigration officials who think you are lying. You finally get back home, tell his family what happened to him, so they can have closure. And then - BAM! we are taking you to court and accusing you of cannibalism. Give us a million bucks you don't have!
People can be so cruel.
@@Whatlander Just be aware that you are basing this assumption on him being truthful when telling such a tale. He may have held out on eating his bird friend, or he may not at all. All we have is his version of events.
I think his human companion didn't go out as peacefully as he told the family at the very least. He may have eaten him too. Hell, he may have straight up murdered him to have more food for himself. We will never know. But what is true regardless of what actually happened is that it was a horrible ordeal that would turn most of us into animals so i genuinely do not blame him if he did any of those things.
This story is incredible. My condolences to his companion though. Can’t imagine what that must’ve been like having to tell his parents what happened
Wow. Reminds me of the book "Life of Pi". Oddly, my biggest surprise is that he didn't canniballize his dead friend. It's the sort of situation where he'd have had moral license to, but, if they never talked about it, people are incredibly kind to those they are stranded with, often to their detriment. He must have tried everything reasonable to get his friend to eat, but a person losing sanity might just not listen. Incredible that either guy could come through that. I wonder how much extra fuss it would be for all ships of any kind to have electronic systems to alert them about this or that small floating patch that might be a castaway. It would hardly ever be useful, but the few times it would be might be worth the effort. All those ships missed them . . .All those ships.
The dead guy's family accused him of cannibalism and tried to sue him for a million dollars.
It’s a very striking fact, all those ships that sailed by and never saw or reported the boat. It really shows that today shipping is just as if all the big ships are now robots, sailing on preprogrammed courses, not caring a bit about humans crossing their path.
@wxwaxone Bro, do you have any idea about how MASSIVE transport ships are? And how VAST the ocean is? Plus they also spend weeks or months at sea with a relatively small crew, you just can't have eyes all around the ship searching the horizon 24/7.
Spotting a small lightly colored boat lost among the waves would require an immense amount of luck. There's a reason why life rafts are orange and carry signaling mirrors as well as flares and radar reflectors.
@@wxwaxone look up some videos, it is incredibly hard to spot something so small even if you know that you should be looking for something, not to talk about randomly stumbling into a boat out on the open sea. The part where people were waving to him is quite weird though, I don't think they were near any land at that point that would make it reasonable to assume that a small boat like that is out on the sea without any assistance. That ship should've checked on him to see if he was there voluntarily or not. (I believe even people attempting guiness records and such have ships accompanying them, but not 100% sure.)
Possibly one of my favorite stories on this channel. The tenacity to live is admirable, truly. His earliest heartbreaking trial of leaving his wife and child due to threat of violence seemed almost unbearable to me. I can't even fathom 14 months adrift in the ocean. May God grant peace and love to him and his family.
As a kid i remember reading the book 'Adrift' by Stephen Callahan, a yachtsman who spent 76 days floating in the open Atlantic, but at least he was in a life raft and had more supplies/ provisions that he was able to retrieve from his boat before it sank. Even so, his tale was nightmarish and stayed with me.14 months with none of that just seems impossible.
I remember when this was on the news. It feels like it was much more recent though… or I’m just getting old.
I think most of us would go a little mad without our family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and even just the complete strangers we interact with during the course of our usual routine. Certainly without the weird and wonderful company afforded by the online world. No numbing TikToks, no Reddit or FB or other social platforms, no online friends. I can’t even fall asleep without watching YT videos, mostly because I don’t want to be left alone with the contents of my own unforgiving mind for even the short timespan between wakefulness and sleep! As solitary as I am, I would lose my mind or end my existence if I ended up in this situation. The loneliness, the guilt over not being there to care for and protect my family, and the vast and mind-crushing emptiness of the open ocean would set me adrift in yet another way entirely.
No, the type of person that can survive all this man did is truly rare, truly remarkable, and possessed of a force of will far stronger than the vast majority of us will ever even glimpse. A force of will that is truly a wonder in our world.
Over a year, lost at sea? That is astounding
... and still pretty chubby in the pictures. I'm a bit doubtful, but I guess doctors will have confirmed his malnutrition.
@@juliajs1752 Malnutrition is not just body fat. Your body needs a whole slew of resources to stay healthy. Yes, he was still pretty chubby in the pictures, because fish contain a lot of fat and a lot of D-Vitamins, but not really a whole lot else. You can be sure he was incredibly low on vitamin A, all of the Vitamin Bs (Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pyridoxine, Folic Acid, Cobalamin, Biotin & Pantothenic Acid), Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Iron, Zink, Copper, Manganese, Selenium, Chrome, Molybdenum & Iodine. Probably also Calcium as fish bones aren't that rich in Calcium and a lot of other important resources for the body as all those I just listed are those listed on a standard vitamin pill bottle for adults. Vitamins that are only meant to serve as a supplement to normal food, meaning there's likely more than what I've just listed
@@juliajs1752 yeah I'm a bit doubtful too , he was scorced by sunlight for 1 year and still white , also chubby , not like the other survival story ive ever seen
That’s the most incredible story I’ve ever heard… Never underestimate the will to survive. Thanks FH for this video!
Never mind the physical challenge....?
The mental gymnastics this man conquered is downright AMAZING!!😅
This is without a doubt one of the best examples of perseverance I’ve ever heard. It’s truly inspiring what he was able to do with so little.
This type of story is a favorite of mine. There are many tales of people surviving ungodly amounts of time at sea under various conditions - physical survival being as important as mental/emotional
What an incredible drive for survival.
This is an absolutely fascinating story. 14 months… my word.
In my mind, "my word" is your go-to phrase during sex
This has to be one of the most incredible acts of survival I've ever seen & heard. Goes to show that mother nature isn't to be messed with & also never to be underestimated. Also no matter how short the trip may be always be well prepared cos at sea anything can happen in a blink of an eye
I can’t even deal with my mind of being surrounded by family and home comforts. What a warrior he is ❤
Or how weak you are.
Sounds like the type that cries when faced with making a phone call and would take her parents with her to a job interview.
@@vincedibona4687
"What a fascinating story, 14 months...my word"
Is basically the comment you left on this video, too.
So, you're either sexist or stupid, because Tilly is saying the same thing you said. Except she was born with a vagina, and you've got gritty gritty sand in yours dude 🤣
It’s almost like the story of Louis Zamperini and how he and two of his fellow airmen were adrift in the pacific after their plane crashed during ww2. They endured days in the sun with no protection, the threat of sharks, a Japanese plane shooting up their raft, the youngest airman passing from starvation. They made it to Japan where they spent the remainder of the war as prisoners of war.
Having spent 13 years in the Navy this is an almost unbelievable story of will from my perspective. No doubt he endured many more storms than just the initial one. The sea is very unforgiving. He was spared for a purpose for sure.
Maybe his purpose in life was to survive some sort of ocean- based ordeal. Maybe God just wanted to see if he could do it
An amazing story of survival I don't think I could manage it in the same situation
What an incredible will to live that man had. The only reason he survived was his willingness to eat anything, was a skilled fisherman, and his ability to use his imagination to escape the monotony and bleakness of his situation.
I am sure that one of the things he must have savoured upon returning to civilization, was a pot of coffee and food that wasn't seafood/bird or raw. I can imagine when he was able to eat again, he cherished each mouthful and savoured the tastes. You can imagine how wonderful it felt to be on dry land and have the comfort of a bed and an armchair along with the company of his loved ones.
People like this give inspiration and are very humbling when you compare your so-called big problems to what he endured. I hope his life was filled with contentment from then on.
This is one of the greatest human stories you've told on this channel. Absolutely incredible.
I've see several youtube videos on this subject. But I think yours has the most detail. I had no idea he did push up, gained weight, or got barnacles under his boat. I didn't even know he ate jellyfish
I love Tuesday mornings! That man has an incredibly resilient spirit! I pray he is doing well now! ❤
Not even a minute after this was uploaded and I get to watch! Normally I have to wait hours until I finish work. Thanks for the great content! This was a fascinating story
The range of immense emotions I felt through listening to this ordeal is insane. Love the narration btw
The fact that this happened the same year as the movie Life of Pi dropped is insane
After the storm, he was so smart with everything he did to keep his boat mate and himself alive.
Such an amazing story. As sad as it was that his companion passed away, I was willing this man to survive. One of the best videos I've ever watched on FH
A podcast I listen to just did this story. Apparently lots of people did not believe him. The sad part is that other people have had this happened like Zamparini and he was described as a hero. I can’t imagine going through that only to have people doubt you.
I’m pretty sure he does t care what other think of him. It’s not like he’s making money off it
For a moment I thought it was April 1st and this was a Cast Away episode.
I would have ate Wilson to survive. All he ever did was just sit there silent, with that bloody grin on his face.
He did make his own Wilson, so…
Speaking of April 1st, I wonder if he'd ever cover the "737 Down Over Albuquerque".
What a true survivor. Unbelievable story
I never get tired of this story. He's an exceptional man. Not many would survive that and keep their mind even somewhat intact. He's a testament to the importance of having a routine and to do what you can to keep a positive mindset in tough situations. Without his mentality, he wouldn't be here today, and without his routine he wouldn't have kept his mentality. By keeping himself focused on collecting water, food and training he made it bearable.
Every time I hear this story I get just as infuriated as I got the first time I heard about the reporter-asshole who faked being a doctor to get an interview. That's just so unbelievably unethical and disgusting. Where's the empathy?! Hadn't he been through enough?! The media can be horrible to people who really don't deserve it.
This channel is really good at making you really empathise with someone just before something unthinkably horrible happens to them.
This is the most fascinating story on this channel so far.
The thought of what his life was like at sea for those 14 months, it seems impossible for me to believe that anybody could possibly survive for that long living that way. If this story is real, then his survival is undoubtedly one of the greatest feats in documented human history. And it happened completely by accident.
I dont really have any words for this. What a tale of endurance, tenacity and the drive to carry on! Both of them did something many could never do, surviving in the largest ocean on the planet. Its so sad that both of them couldnt go home, but the respect he gave his dead friend and his family is superb
Wow, it’s just insane how long it took for him to bump into land. He crossed one of the widest sections of uninterrupted sea in the world.
I can't imagine how disheartening it must've been to be stranded at sea for as long as he was, finally crossing paths with 20 container ships, not a single person on any of those ships see you, then eventually come across another ship, this time several people see you, but nobody even makes an attempt to bring you aboard or let alone slow the ship down to investigate further. That would've been soul crushing.
Extraordinary! When I think about our far ancient ancestors, the ones who ventured across mountains and over ice fields and through the oceans into new lands, I am reminded that the human will to survive is still with us. This is how we always were. Although this mis-adventure was extreme, we can find many other examples of humans overcoming insurmountable odds to survive in recent years. Thankfully, the internet is bringing about many of these stories. And they are all an inspiration. For these men in this story, both sad and joyous at the same time, I can't imagine the sorrow of having to bury his friend at sea after trying to keep him alive for so long. I hope they are all ok today.
A very strong man, physically and most important mentally! To keep his sanity in such dire conditions is truly miraculous!
NGL, I almost thought April came early, with how fantastical this story is. I'm really glad he made it back.
Wow, this story is amazing. I can’t even imagine all he went through.
Jose had an extremely strong mind and will to live...amazing!! Really puts things in perspective when we stress out over the small stuff lol. The fact that he was already an experienced deep sea fisherman undoubtedly helped him survive.
I've read about this story before but I didn't know what the boat looked like. I imagined it had a cover or some rest area. It didn't. Him and his companion lived at sea for an insane amount of time with almost nothing. It's truly insane.
Having so many ships pass by would have broken me. How strong he must be!
I always look forward to a Tuesday morning upload by FH
One of the most amazing stories on this channel. Absolutely astonishing. What a stoic person!!
Astonishing is the word alright! Amazingly astonishing no less!
Thank you that was a wonderful story of a man who was able to survive under such terrible situations❤
Imagine being with one or zero people for a year then having everyone in the room wanting to talk to you everywhere you go. Must have been overwhelming as hell.
This is like an extreme version of RAFT where everything is super scarce and you have no hook 😳
An extraordinary story of endurance and willpower.
What resolve he has incredible will to live and survive fourteen months at sea takes an incredible human being
438 Days is an amazing book, and I highly recommend it to everyone! Great video!!!
Happy endings are few & far between on FH. But when they happen, it is an emotional rollercoaster 😰. Great video!
Amazing story !!! Thanks and keep up the Great work... Be well...
Imagine drifting 7000 miles in the pacific...amazing.
The ability to survive this is amazing. The mental part would, after seeing multiple ships pass and not see him, would be devastating. Thinking it's come to an end just to realize that you're still alone and struggling to survive.
Amazingly tough and resourceful guy
A terrible ordeal, although I can't understand at all why someone would set off out to sea without oars or an anchor.
Reminds me of Steven Callahan. He was better prepared though, being an experienced solitary sailor, although he lost his survival kit when his boat sank. I highly recommend his book "Adrift: Seventy-six days lost at sea". Very captivating.
One of the most courageous and strong individuals that I have ever heard of and I am humbled. I am going to try to quit feeling sorry for myself and my current situation.✌🏻😿♿
You have such unique content. Always enjoy them.
May God comfort the Corda family. My sincerest condolences. Thank you for this incredible story.
What a living legend. This was such a fantastic horrifying tale. The fact that he made it back home to his family with a renewed resolve to stay with them, after everything he had experienced, is nothing short of inspiring.
I just want to thank you for not having sound effects or sensationalistic gimmicks. I hate that so much.
A year! Sheesh! I think I'd be gone within the week lol.
14 MONTHS!!! Those additional two months maaaaaaan
Good lord. What resilience. 14 months!!! I can hardly fathom it.
What a fascinating story of resilience
Every once and a while I think about the possibility that there could be someone out on the ocean stuck on a life raft and lost, while I’m sitting in my apartment safe and happy…..that gives me crazy anxiety. 😟
Proud of my fellow el salvadoran. What a crazy story
This needs to be turned into a film.
wow. what an amazing story.
wow…this is my biggest fear ever. i can’t imagine going through that, it’s amazing that he survived
It’s amazing to me that he got so good at catching live animals that that’s how he survived for over a year. And he basically had to wait for all of the animals to come to him, he couldn’t even go hunt them. Incredible.
Amazing story. Even more extreme than the situation in Nowhere (although without the baby) it's incredible how he did this.
I just recently listened to the audiobook of 438 Days, so when I saw this video I suspected and hoped it'd be about Salvador Alvarenga! It's an incredible saga. I highly encourage anyone to read the book if you liked this video and/or generally enjoy survival stories.
If I ever get lost at sea, I want to be lost with this man!
I was awake at 5am awaiting the next story to drop, I stayed up until 6am and then I shut my eyes... I see you dropped this FH story at 6:15am!!! At least I got to see it at 8am!!
Nothing but admiration for this gentleman 🫡
Extremely remarkable story of survival
Over a year???? It's really hard to imagine anyone could stay alive OR sane in those conditions...
Absolutely incredible story.
What an amazing story.