I remember reading an interview with Stuart Diver in a magazine not long after this happened. Not only did his wife Sally drown in the dark beside him as the hollow in which they were both trapped filled with water, but he came millimeters from the same thing happening as the icy, muddy water rose several times during his ordeal. Apparently he held her hand the whole time 😢 His will to survive must have been incredible, psychologically that would have absolutely broken me. According to Wikipedia, he did later remarry only to lose his second wife to cancer in 2015.
I heard that he had tried to cup is hand around her mouth so she could breathe as the water rushed over her, not sure how true that is but imagine the physiological torment of him trying to do anything he could to save her and it still not being enough
I heard that the media gave him shit for remarrying, and did the same to Walter Micak. I can’t begin to comprehend what either of them went through, it hurts to think about… but then after all they went through, people expected their lives to end too? It’s so grubby, but that’s the Australian media for you.
@@belindaf8821 and he waited 15 years before he remarried. he was only married 3 years to his second wife before she died. i'd say 15 years is quite a respectable amount of time to wait
Aussie here. Firstly, well done on correctly pronouncing "Kosciuszko"! Secondly, I remember reading an interview with Stuart Diver a few years ago. In this interview, Stuart spoke about how after the disaster, he was (understandably) deeply depressed, and struggling to cope. What helped him were hundreds of letters he received from Australian primary school students. The kids would write things like: "I'm sorry the mountain fell on you." Stuart reckoned their lack of tip-toing around the tragedy was exactly what he needed to hear!
Actually the irony is we're all saying it wrong. It's a Polish name that is closer to "Kosh-tchoosh-ko". I imagine that our fellow Aussies back in the day did a rough guess at how it was pronounced by how the word looks and it stuck.
We have a town in Indiana named Kosciusko and we pronounce it like he did in the video. My polish great grandmother pronounced it more like the other person commented.
@@samanthasowala2412 yeah we Australians and Americans would have just adapted the name and wouldn't pronounce it as accurately as an actual Polish person would. It also changes over time
It's pronounced more like "Ko 'shooos' ko'. I remember Jebediah making a point of it when they were releasing their album of the same name. A true Aussie would know this...
I can't believe this is 25 years ago. I remember watching the rescue of Stuart on live TV like it was yesterday. He has had such terrible tragedies in his life, first losing Sally and somehow surviving that horrible disaster himself and then losing his second wife from cancer a few years ago. I met him once at Thredbo a few years ago and he was such a lovely, kind and humble soul but you could just see the hurt in his eyes. I sincerely hope the remainder of his life brings him some of the joy and happiness that he so richly deserves.
Don’t worry. He hasn’t let tragedy slow him down. He’s hoped onto number 3 already. Obviously a man that’s needs his clothes washed and willy attended to; won’t let words like respect or wait a suitable time affect him.
The fact that Mr. Diver was able to maintain such a genial attitude after all he'd been through is astounding. Surviving the disaster, losing his wife, being stuck by her body, facing the prospect of a slow death himself... it's too much to think about. Landslides, avalanches, and collapses are the closest most people will come to actually being buried alive; what a horrible thought.
Being trapped under slabs of unstable, concrete rubble and freezing-cold slurry from a landslide for nearly 3 days next to the body of your wife who perished in the same incident sounds like one of the most horrific scenarios possible to live through. To endure such physical and mental trials speaks wonders towards to the strength, endurance, and fortitude of Stuart Diver. I hope he has found some peace from his ordeal in the decades since the disaster.
Also speaks volumes to the tenacity of the guy willing to sit with him and talk... and to the monumental importance for rescuers to remember morale is more than being happy. It's still too frequently over-looked in crisis management. ;o)
Stuart wrote a biography, Survival. His experiences were also made into the Australian TV movie, "Heroes' Mountain," where his character was played by actor Craig McLachlan. He re-married, but lost his second wife to breast cancer in 2015.
I remember seeing this on TV as it happened. People were glued to the screen for days. The cheers that went up when Diver was pulled out was so emotional. Aussie pride. Rescuers heard his tapping of his wedding ring on a pipe. The rescuers did a wonderful job; the media were a pest. The gov't did do a good job in assistance, I must say.
I vividly remember watching this the day it happened. We thought there was no way there could be any survivors. My family and I were absolutely downtrodden. So when Stuart Diver was pulled out, the lone survivor, the nation absolutely cheered for his survival. Despite the disaster, one man survived. That alone helped bind the Australian spirit of millions together in hope. The joy at his survival was palpable, and I will never forget how happy I was as a child seeing him. Alive and breathing.
As an Aussie, just seeing this title sent all sorts of emotions rushing through me. I remember this vividly and had a few close friends help with the recovery and rescue of Stuart Diver. That moment they pulled him from the rubble is imprinted on my mind forever.
Agreed. I was just a kid, but this was only hours away from where we lived and we were all glued to the rescue effort for days. When they managed to get Stuart out alive the sense of relief was and the grief over his ordeal and loss was so impacting.
@O888O888O I'm in South Australia and I'm pretty sure I've watched a tele-movie/mini series on one of our regular free to air tv channels, years ago. I can't recall the title though.
Same, it was horrendous, the news wasn’t favourable and the rescuers had the hardest most somber job, a credit to all involved, poor Stuart, the only survivor must have had such guilt, the trauma of loosing your love and your community would be a heavy cross to bare..
The pressure those rescuers would've felt once they heard Stuart's voice would have been unbelievable. You'd be wanting so desperately to get him out, to have this one positive with so much negative. Mr Diver is an incredible person for surviving that ordeal, physically yes but psychologically that is next level, I hope he has a good life now
This disasters aftermath went suprisingly smoothly. Lessons learn, repairs made, monetoring picked up, no shift if blame, just straight up action. Astonishing.
@@KCzz15 We're finally heading in the right direction now though. And it seems Albo is bringing a sense of integrity and respect back to Australian national politics.
@@KarinaMilne As a --prisoner-- resident of the US, this is what struck me. Australians seem to have the ability to learn from their mistakes, make difficult changes, and actually improve their situation out of a communal determination to _never let that happen again._ Or maybe it's just a few things and I'm biased against the stupidity of my own country. 🤷
@@misssummersalt Unless you begin stringing every last career politician there, ESPECIALLY in NSW, from lampposts, then I doubt you're headed in the right direction. Australians are great guys, but holy crap those politicians are beyond a joke.
Sadly for Stuart Diver he became the focus of an intense bidding war between tabloid newspapers and television programs. He was offered a deal, that included them having him commentate at the next Winter Olympics. I think the media used him and then forgot him. I think Stuart’s life was further traumatised by how much scrutiny he had from the media and how they behaved.
@@xr6lad Did he piss you off personally? The guy suffered through losing 2 wives and you are treating him like he is a bad person. You should look in the mirror.
@@xr6lad Yeah, yeah. We get it. You're just bitter because he's managed to find two people to love him, whereas nobody loves you. But really, it's rather hard to blame them. After all, you're you.
Nobody in Australia when this happened will ever forget the sight of that disintegrated mountain side. We really don't have those types of accidents here & haven't since then, it changed enourmous amounts of building codes and safety precautions. Specially site drainage. The vision of Stuart Diver being rescued & lifted hand by hand down that horrifically unstable area was overwhelming & many thanks for the people who put their lives at risk to save him. His story of survival was incredible & completely heartbreaking & not one that Aussies have forgotten. We have a tendency not to forget disasters no matter how long ago it was. As we have a smaller population probably our awareness is more than many other countries. It doesn't necessarily mean we're any better at learning from our mistakes or holding those accountable up to prosecution. But most of us remember.............. I'm quite informed about many of your stories and therefore appreciate how much research and detail you give each item. Also the lack of random theories and rumour in place of verifiable facts, that is refreshing and some information about these stories I wasn't aware of. Love this attention to detail and the reason why I enjoy your channel and am a subscriber, truthfully I simply can't wait to see what you release next. The stories I have never heard before are fascinating and I believe your account to be accurate and honest, Bravo!!!! Well done you & keep it coming.👍👍👍👍🇦🇺
I've never heard of this disaster, so thank you for covering it. What I really like about this channel is that you cover disasters that might be well known in the country where they happened but that aren't necessarily more widely known, and you make a point to highlight changes that have been brought about since, often as a response to the disaster in question. This isn't something that many disaster channels do, so thank you for bringing that positive side out - and also for showing whatever memorials have been set up, too. Love your work, please keep it up. It's always a day to see a new video from you.
On that science experiment everyone does as a kid, the one with the volcano, we had the option of demonstrating ANY geological event, so me and my buddy (who always aced our science projects...and we were considered tough guys, weird eh?) decided to do a landslide. We got my grandpa's help to build a wooden box for the display, but that was it. We made a little hill, added a layer of garbage bag to represent either a compacted layer or rock layer of strata, then more dirt on top. We decorated the hillside with little twigs we plucked for trees, and monopoly houses and hotels. Then, just a steady, gentle drizzle of water from a garden watering can, and the surface dirt slides off the plastic, utterly devastating Monopolyville below. Literally everyone else did the stupid volcano, but we had done that at home for fun already.
Mine in the 8th grade was the effects of an iceberg as it melts. I had things frozen in the water to leave traces along the slope. Some other similar qualities to yours. That was in 1986.
@@joanysohayda7233 Yep. The next year we made a terrarium and had seeds growing, a spider made a web and had been eating, and our caterpillar completely metamorphized, and we all got to watch a moth hatch...while everyone's aquariums failed lol. Aced that too.
@@joanysohayda7233 Well for a while I was gung ho about all biology, so I started working with my friend importing rare fruits from SE Asia, growing and selling them. Things like finger limes, blood oranges, and many rare mandarins. He went to school for botany but I had a natural talent for gardening anyway. Worked well but we had a falling out. Used to grow hot peppers every year too, herb gardens as well... but haven't been able to lately for time/personal reasons. *Basically, I'll be able to grow my own food if/when the world goes to shit, so ive got that bargaining chip.
Its so strange seeing stories more recent like this. Actually being able to see Stuart is a wild experience. It makes it significantly more difficult to separate yourself from.
As long as stupid and/or apathetic people are in positions of authority disasters like this one will continue to happen, no matter how advanced technology becomes.
Thredbo is still functioning as a ski resort, it has a special relationship with me; I first learned to ski there in 1972. Until ill health forced me to give up ski-ing, I returned many times, but preferred the larger Perisher. We still drive along the Alpine Way between Jindabyne and Khancoban in summer pursuing fly fishing. Stuart Diver is now General Manager of the Thredbo Resort - he never gave up on it!
I went to Thredbo with my family a few years after this happened. Seeing the terraces was surreal. I was surprised to see something Australian on this channel but even more surprised when I saw the credit for the photos was Che Lydia Xyang as they’re an old friend of mine 😅 love your work as a usual ☺️
It's been really cool to see this channel blow up over the last 6 or 8 months. The dude deserves it. Great content presented professionally and respectfully. Love it
Are you sure? Look at the Wikipedia article for this exact event, especially the part referring to the landslide, and you'll see it's practically the same thing with some words changed.
@@vitamc1213 even if that's the case it does not take away from his presentation style and general vibe of his videos. That's why me and many others keep coming back. You don't grow like his channel has in such a short time period by simply "reading Wikipedia articles". If anything I can respect him doing what he can to "stick to the facts" as it were. Why are you so bothered by a strangers opinion of a RUclips channel you clearly don't have much love for?
Well done on covering this one, this year marked the 25th anniversary of the disaster. It is ski season in Australia as well. I remember watching this in the news back then. They had rolling coverage of the rescue effort.
I live in Australia but surprised I’ve never heard of this event. Thx for raising awareness of it, so sad and I hope all affected, both dead and alive, have managed to find peace.
Its probably not that surprising that you don't know that much about it if you weren't even born when it happened. There's also a movie based on it, it was pretty huge at the time. I was only 7 when it happened but I remember watching it on abc news and how horrifying it was for the adults around me
Interesting to see an Australian story. I was only 10 years old when this happened and I STILL remember watching the coverage non stop when they pulled Stuart diver out of the destruction. Wow what a moment. If you’re looking at doing more Australian stories can I recommend the Granville train disaster?
@@jessicad83 it was seriously unreal. Thinking that there was no hope and then all of a sudden they find life. I think we watched nothing else on tv for days
I remember too. There was a movie about it 'A Hero's Mountain'. A few years later Stuart remarried but sadly she died of breast cancer. Double tragedy. He spoke about it all on 60 Minutes in 2017. 🇦🇺❤
I was very young when this happened, but I remember seeing Stuart Diver being pulled out, and my mum was crying. It’s one of three events I remember very vividly from being a young child, along with Port Arthur and Princess Diana’s death.
ooh, I love seeing an Australian story on this channel! Can I recommend the Beaconsfield mine collapse of 2006? Amazing story of survival, even if one person sadly didn't make it out. Keep up the great work with your videos!
He has an email where you can send suggestions. Just look in the description and send him an email. He was courteous enough to respond when I sent suggestions :)
I dunno if you take requests from comments, but the 1964 Cheadle Hulme Derailment might be worth covering. A train conductor was confident he knew a rail line he hadn't worked in a few months, didn't realize part of it was under construction, took a corner too fast, and derailed, injuring 27 and killing two 9-year-old children. Apparently even the locals aren't that aware of it.
Thanks for doing some Australian stories mate. Beaconsfield mining collapse might be of interest to you, it's a fantastic story of humans surviving. Also, Black Saturday bushfires, 2011 Toowoomba floods (absolutely incredible footage) and more recently the 2020 bushfires that have been potentially the worst in history took place in QLD and NSW.
I remember both the Thredbo and Beaconsfield events and even now when I think back to the three people being alive and rescued I can’t help but have a mini panic attack. I just cannot imagine being in such small spaces for what must have felt like eternity without completely losing it! All 3 men have my unconditional respect and admiration for what they endured 🤜🤛
I’m only 34 but I remember all of these. I lived in qld in the 2011 floods and being flooded with nothing better to do, was part of the volunteer force that helped clean up and rescue animals. Amazing things happened amongst the tragedy, local Aussies being Aussies and helping each other 💙
Love FH!! Thanks for explaining & dignifying the end of life plight of those who sadly lost their lives in these extraordinary circumstances. May their memory never ever fade......
I remember watching this disaster unfold with the final rescue of Stuart Diver leading to huge cheers from all those on the site plus all those who watched on TV. It was shocking to watch let alone being on the seen working to rescue people. Paul Featherstone was amazing in how dedicated he was supporting Stuart throughout his rescue. He gave an excellent interview about his experience and was self-deprecating, giving credit to all the rescue and support workers who worked tirelessly for days.
Great to see an Aussie story! I was in primary school when this happened, but I remember it vividly. Everyone had the TV switched to the live news reports, we were glued to the set as the rescuers worked against the clock to free him. Everyone was full of hope that he could be saved, the whole nation was behind him. We all held our collective breath until he was finally extricated safely after almost three days in the wreckage. Being the lone survivor of the disaster made Stewart Diver a bit of a household name. It was just heartbreaking that he lost his wife the way he did. I hope he’s doing well now.
I don't think I'll ever forget the relief I felt when Staurt was found alive, after days of grim news. I'm glad to see an Australian event pop up on the channel, keep up the great work!
7:40 .. this just broke my heart. Nobody deserves to see their loved one dead in front of them while they themselves are stuck in a life or death situation for 2 days.
@@quillmaurer6563 no. He married 3 years later. Not 15. He wasted no time. Oh and he wasted no time after his second wife died. In to his 3rd one already. Obviously willy needs lot of attention for this guy- no time for respect or grieving.
@@xr6lad How much time is the right amount? Is three years alone, probably suffering from all kinds of PTSD, not enough time? Unless you have intimate knowledge of his life and can make an informed judgement, then who are you to judge him?
@@davidhynd4435 Ignore him, he comments under every post, reminding people how terrible it is to find solace in another partner after your previous one tragically passed away. Especially hilarious in these times, where getting divorced is a common and accepted option. But apparently using the freedom after death did them part...
My uncle worked there at the time. He luckily was off that day and lived in a nearby suburb. I’m lucky to have my uncle here today and I’m glad he is here.
I'd love to have a podcast on spotify made by you that i could listen to when i drive. I love your content, no bullshit, no annoying intros or comments... Rare these days
Crazy to think I hit “subscribe’ when you had about 30k followers. Your success is awesome. Thanks for covering an Aussie story. I was 19 when this happened and was glued to the tv at the time.
Thanks for doing an Australian story! I remember this as a child, such a devastating part of our history. I also read Derrick Hand's autobiography covering his time working on this disaster, fascinating read if anyone is interested.
5:00 - For some reason, the thing I've always remembered about this disaster was watching news video of the rescue going on at night, and seeing the large spherical glowing white lights shown in this photo. These devices had been invented for shooting movies and TV shows, and they provide very bright but very even illumination without glare or severe shadows. In the years since this, I've seen these lights in use by professional TV series crews in real life, and always think about them at this event.
Thank you for presenting this so sensitively. We were all glued to the tv watching the news coverage as it happened and the image of Stuart Diver being lifted out of the rubble is etched on the memories and hearts of countless Australians. I wonder if you might consider featuring an event from my home state of Tasmania: the Beaconsfield Mine Collapse of 2006. Another truly extraordinary story.
My aunt was in / around Thredbo when this happened, it was frightening that she and her family were so close to the disaster, and so lucky not to be caught up in it.
I watched this happen live on TV when I was 10. We didn't think anyone had survived and then when we heard there was a survivor we were all glued to the screen for hours. I clearly remember the image of Stuart being carried out, it was a huge moment (similar to the Beaconsfield miners). He instantly became a household name under tragic circumstances. What a brave man. 27 seems so young now. There was also a great tele movie made about it.
I literally haven't heard of the majority of the stories that you document. I am appreciative of you channel. Knowledge is amazing and in one day I have learned so much more about our tiny little world.
Your way of making videos is astonishing. It's pro. Exposure, contextualization, chronological view of the events, conclusions of investigations, commentary/synthesis, conclusion. Transitions are smooth, narration is perfect. Great job.
I remember when this happened, watching the news coverage with my Dad, just waiting and hoping they would find survivors. When they found Stuart I think the whole country celebrated in that moment.
I was living in NSW at the time and this was a huge story... deeply distressing. You covered this well in such a short documentary. Stuart went on to have a very brief stint in the media -- but it is believed he then suffered severe PTSD which impacted him for some time after the tragedy. RIP and sincerest condolences to all who were affected by this event.
There was a landslide near my hometown in a tiny little beach town called La Conchita. A man lost his wife and three of his four daughters to it. He was a locally “famous” musician and artsy type guy and the neighboring towns and communities were really affected. It was a sad time.
The chap who researches and narrates these fascinating horror stories is such a professional. He always makes them informative and interesting. He deserves the followings he has.
Always glad to see there's a new video. Most of the incidents you cover I only learn of because of this channel. You're doing a great thing by keeping histories alive.
Aussie here just pleased to see someone talking about something that was so impactful on my childhood. I remember watching this as it unfolded the regular cuts to the scene, the pain on the people and the astonishment when Stuart Diver was found. It was my first exposure to mass casualty events and the power of humans.
I went to Thredbo with an ex, not realising it was the exact 20 year anniversary of the landslide. I got some photos of news crews filming & also lots of the memorial. It was eerie, realising we were there at an important date.
Thanks for covering this! It was huge at the time, not only because it was such a tragedy but we were all on tenterhooks hoping they’d get Stuart out alive. It was just one person rescued so we had so much invested in seeing him emerge from the rubble like a miracle
I was a kid when this happened and everyone in the country was glued to the news, desperate for a positive outcome for Stuart Diver. I'd forgotten about it until seeing this but I remember watching his rescue vividly.
I watched it happen live on TV from Sydney. Great joy was felt all over Australia when the rescuers carried him down on a stretcher. It was incredible to see a survivor nine long days after the landslide Those rescuers worked bloody hard.
I first learnt about this disaster during my first family ski trip to Thredbo in the year 2000, we stayed in the lodge immediately next to the site of the 97 landslide. It was still very evident what had happened there just a few years earlier and the walls weren't built yet.
The fact that Mr. Diver was able to maintain such a genial attitude after what he'd been through is truly astounding. Surviving the disaster, losing his wife, being stuck by her body, facing the prospect of a slow death himself... it's too much to think about. Landslides, avalanches, and collapses are the closest most people will come to actually being buried alive; what a horrible thought.
I would really like to see a video about the town of Frank in Canada and the Frank slide. You have a captivating narrating style and a voice that commands attention. Great content!
Ooooh! Ask and you shall receive! This was a terrible tragedy and it still haunts me knowing how suddenly things can turn dreadful. This was one of the first disasters I remember on the news and understanding that life is fragile.
I'm Australian and I remember this disaster very well, though it happened when I was about eleven. It was all over the news, of course, and I remember seeing the report on TV saying that they'd found someone alive against all the odds. I even read poor Mr Diver's book about his experiences when I found it in the school library. And I saw the site of the disaster later on, before they rebuilt. Thredbo really is a beautiful place, even outside the skiing season.
I remember when this happened. I was a child but it was heavily reported by the news 24/7. Someone I would later work with as an adult was a reporter on the ground during the rescue of Stuart.
I lived about 40 minutes from Thredbo when this happened and grew up I’m the mountains. One of my old bosses was a tiler and did some work in a chalet about 200 metres from where he was able to park. (Parking in Thredbo is notoriously hard to get to) summer time is very busy with tradespeople. Stuart was the labourer on the job and had to run up and down the mountain with boxes of tiles, glue, tools, lunches etc and nobody could believe how incredibly fit this guy was, doing 2-3 trips to everyone else’s one. He’s an extraordinary human and a nice guy by all accounts.
Such a great video, as always. You not only explain the disaster in good detail (with understandable explanation) but you also talk about what the causes are and the hubris that causes such disasters. I watch this show because you show high distinction from other channels. I would really like to see a video on the death of Timothy Treadwill, as you made one about Christopher Mcandless. I really love your content, and keep doing what you are doing!
2 years before the incident my family visited Threadbo. When we returned to South Australia we often found people didn't know where it was, though many knew Jindabyne, which is a town nearby. After the incident no one ever forgot. I also remember as teen the media of the event. During the rescue there was round the clock coverage, with some TV Channels filming the entire time, I remember going out with a mate to the local shopping centre (shopping mall for those outside Australia) and it was so quite, there were some people shopping and carrying on as normal but many people were home watching the TV to see if Stuart Diver would be saved. I was 13 at the time BTW.
Interesting as always... I enjoy listening to your commentary over, "hard lessons in life" stories as I work. Keep up the amazing work! Can't wait that more
These stories are tragic and I appreciate the effort put into finding silver linings and changes made after these horrific events. For me, often the takeaway is the absolute intense resilience of humanity. The idea that someone could go through what Mr. Diver went through and live a life afterwards is nothing short of heroic. I genuinely don’t think I would be able to keep on after something like that and hearing of people who can and do gives me hope.
I'm new here. I just wanted to thank you for including your sources of information. Credibility is key. Great video on all levels but the sources make me stay and subscribe. Cheerio!
I remember this happening very well, especially living within a certain distance of the snow field’s. This guy definitely went through an incredibly tough time, but it amazed me somewhat how the authorities basically claimed him to be some kind of “Hero” instead of the victim/survivor he really was. The true heroes, the one’s that actually risked their lives in order to save him almost received no public mention, while “Diver” appears in just about every single kind of media format possible, he was literally on a media tour being celebrated as a hero, yet in truth, all he did was survive and await rescue. It was only after seeing how the media handled this story, that rescue teams were actually given the credit etc that the genuinely deserved. Victims were no longer considered heroes following this either. The volunteers that basically operate the emergency services, fire service etc are truly amazing individuals, the people that actually do the work to save lives should never be forgotten.
I remember this from when I was a kid. I Didn't really understand what was going on, but I was really mad about it happening because they cut to a special news broadcast about it right at a dramatic moment in a cartoon I was watching (Duck tales I think?)
I lived and worked there when it happened, I had those skis, and Stuart has had the saddest of lives losing both his Sallies. One of my friends lost her best friend and had just left after having dinner when it happened. It was terrible.
I was very pregnant with my second child when this happened. I was glued to the news. There was such a huge cheer when Stuart Diver was found. I even read his book years later and Stuart was such an inspirational guy.
I don't always comment but i enjoy your stories and they are all very sad and crazy when things go so wrong. I am a subscriber for more than two years so keep the stories coming.
This was a life changing experience, I was part of the rescue team, myself and my buddy found the 16th body - I have only just realised I no longer remember their name, now I wonder if I ever knew it. In the early moments afterwards the scene was crawling with non professionals digging in and moving rubble, I understand why, but so dangerous, I always consider it the biggest miracle that more of those people didn’t get injured or become trapped themselves.
After watching dozens of these great videos, I finally got tripped up: first dent in the armor! :D (2:55) "At around 11:30 a.m. on the evening of July 30th..." Keep up the great content, FH! Love your style and efficiency.
I remember this when it happened, but had few details so thanks for filling in the story. Like all landslides, unexpected with tragic results. Another one worth covering is perhaps the Hope Slide in British Columbia in the 1960s. So much rock fell off the mountain side that 3 cars were buried and never recovered. As for our Stuart, the human story in all this, what a guy to survive this ordeal.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
I remember reading an interview with Stuart Diver in a magazine not long after this happened. Not only did his wife Sally drown in the dark beside him as the hollow in which they were both trapped filled with water, but he came millimeters from the same thing happening as the icy, muddy water rose several times during his ordeal. Apparently he held her hand the whole time 😢 His will to survive must have been incredible, psychologically that would have absolutely broken me. According to Wikipedia, he did later remarry only to lose his second wife to cancer in 2015.
I heard that he had tried to cup is hand around her mouth so she could breathe as the water rushed over her, not sure how true that is but imagine the physiological torment of him trying to do anything he could to save her and it still not being enough
I heard that the media gave him shit for remarrying, and did the same to Walter Micak. I can’t begin to comprehend what either of them went through, it hurts to think about… but then after all they went through, people expected their lives to end too? It’s so grubby, but that’s the Australian media for you.
@@belindaf8821 The media is genuinely a international menace.
Damn. That's rough. I really feel for this guy! 😢
@@belindaf8821 and he waited 15 years before he remarried. he was only married 3 years to his second wife before she died. i'd say 15 years is quite a respectable amount of time to wait
Aussie here. Firstly, well done on correctly pronouncing "Kosciuszko"! Secondly, I remember reading an interview with Stuart Diver a few years ago. In this interview, Stuart spoke about how after the disaster, he was (understandably) deeply depressed, and struggling to cope. What helped him were hundreds of letters he received from Australian primary school students. The kids would write things like: "I'm sorry the mountain fell on you." Stuart reckoned their lack of tip-toing around the tragedy was exactly what he needed to hear!
Actually the irony is we're all saying it wrong. It's a Polish name that is closer to "Kosh-tchoosh-ko". I imagine that our fellow Aussies back in the day did a rough guess at how it was pronounced by how the word looks and it stuck.
We have a town in Indiana named Kosciusko and we pronounce it like he did in the video. My polish great grandmother pronounced it more like the other person commented.
@@samanthasowala2412 yeah we Australians and Americans would have just adapted the name and wouldn't pronounce it as accurately as an actual Polish person would. It also changes over time
It's pronounced more like "Ko 'shooos' ko'. I remember Jebediah making a point of it when they were releasing their album of the same name. A true Aussie would know this...
@@phattjohnson I literally said the polish pronunciation that it came from...I am a true Aussie thanks
I can't believe this is 25 years ago. I remember watching the rescue of Stuart on live TV like it was yesterday. He has had such terrible tragedies in his life, first losing Sally and somehow surviving that horrible disaster himself and then losing his second wife from cancer a few years ago. I met him once at Thredbo a few years ago and he was such a lovely, kind and humble soul but you could just see the hurt in his eyes. I sincerely hope the remainder of his life brings him some of the joy and happiness that he so richly deserves.
I was just thinking the same...1997 feels like last week. LOL
Time gets incredibly faster the older we get believe me my friend ❤️
Don’t worry. He hasn’t let tragedy slow him down. He’s hoped onto number 3 already. Obviously a man that’s needs his clothes washed and willy attended to; won’t let words like respect or wait a suitable time affect him.
@@xr6lad What a cold and heartless soul you have. I pity you and anyone who knows you.
@@xr6lad You are a sad human being. You have no right to judge how or for how long someone grieves.
The fact that Mr. Diver was able to maintain such a genial attitude after all he'd been through is astounding. Surviving the disaster, losing his wife, being stuck by her body, facing the prospect of a slow death himself... it's too much to think about. Landslides, avalanches, and collapses are the closest most people will come to actually being buried alive; what a horrible thought.
Bro, welcome to Australia
He wasn't going to have a good time.
@O888O888O I believe A Fez was referring to the genial attitude generally attributed to the Australian people, not the location of the incident.
Stuart Diver lost his 2nd wife to cancer in 2015
Aw, geeze.
Being trapped under slabs of unstable, concrete rubble and freezing-cold slurry from a landslide for nearly 3 days next to the body of your wife who perished in the same incident sounds like one of the most horrific scenarios possible to live through.
To endure such physical and mental trials speaks wonders towards to the strength, endurance, and fortitude of Stuart Diver. I hope he has found some peace from his ordeal in the decades since the disaster.
well said
Also speaks volumes to the tenacity of the guy willing to sit with him and talk... and to the monumental importance for rescuers to remember morale is more than being happy. It's still too frequently over-looked in crisis management. ;o)
Stuart wrote a biography, Survival. His experiences were also made into the Australian TV movie, "Heroes' Mountain," where his character was played by actor Craig McLachlan.
He re-married, but lost his second wife to breast cancer in 2015.
@@dannydougin3925 geez, the guy can’t catch a break. I hope he’s doing fine, losing two wives in a single life sounds devastating.
At least if the rescue took longer than anticipated he had food
I remember seeing this on TV as it happened. People were glued to the screen for days. The cheers that went up when Diver was pulled out was so emotional. Aussie pride. Rescuers heard his tapping of his wedding ring on a pipe. The rescuers did a wonderful job; the media were a pest. The gov't did do a good job in assistance, I must say.
I vividly remember watching this the day it happened. We thought there was no way there could be any survivors. My family and I were absolutely downtrodden. So when Stuart Diver was pulled out, the lone survivor, the nation absolutely cheered for his survival. Despite the disaster, one man survived. That alone helped bind the Australian spirit of millions together in hope. The joy at his survival was palpable, and I will never forget how happy I was as a child seeing him. Alive and breathing.
I was only young and didn't understand why Saturday Disney wasn't on.
As an Aussie, just seeing this title sent all sorts of emotions rushing through me. I remember this vividly and had a few close friends help with the recovery and rescue of Stuart Diver. That moment they pulled him from the rubble is imprinted on my mind forever.
Agreed. I was just a kid, but this was only hours away from where we lived and we were all glued to the rescue effort for days. When they managed to get Stuart out alive the sense of relief was and the grief over his ordeal and loss was so impacting.
@O888O888O I'm in South Australia and I'm pretty sure I've watched a tele-movie/mini series on one of our regular free to air tv channels, years ago. I can't recall the title though.
@O888O888O There is 😊 It's called Heroes Mountain
This one and Beaconsfield
Same, it was horrendous, the news wasn’t favourable and the rescuers had the hardest most somber job, a credit to all involved, poor Stuart, the only survivor must have had such guilt, the trauma of loosing your love and your community would be a heavy cross to bare..
The pressure those rescuers would've felt once they heard Stuart's voice would have been unbelievable. You'd be wanting so desperately to get him out, to have this one positive with so much negative. Mr Diver is an incredible person for surviving that ordeal, physically yes but psychologically that is next level, I hope he has a good life now
This disasters aftermath went suprisingly smoothly.
Lessons learn, repairs made, monetoring picked up, no shift if blame, just straight up action.
Astonishing.
Australia mate 👍💙
@@KarinaMilne
Given the state of your politicians I consider this to be a miracle.
@@KCzz15 We're finally heading in the right direction now though. And it seems Albo is bringing a sense of integrity and respect back to Australian national politics.
@@KarinaMilne As a --prisoner-- resident of the US, this is what struck me. Australians seem to have the ability to learn from their mistakes, make difficult changes, and actually improve their situation out of a communal determination to _never let that happen again._ Or maybe it's just a few things and I'm biased against the stupidity of my own country. 🤷
@@misssummersalt
Unless you begin stringing every last career politician there, ESPECIALLY in NSW, from lampposts, then I doubt you're headed in the right direction.
Australians are great guys, but holy crap those politicians are beyond a joke.
Sadly for Stuart Diver he became the focus of an intense bidding war between tabloid newspapers and television programs. He was offered a deal, that included them having him commentate at the next Winter Olympics. I think the media used him and then forgot him. I think Stuart’s life was further traumatised by how much scrutiny he had from the media and how they behaved.
Just never call modern day news people "journalists." Journalism died many moons ago. Now they're people who'd make Joseph Goebbels envious.
Did someone force him to accept any of that? No one certainly forced him to sell wedding photos to a woman’s magazine apart from greed.
@@xr6lad Did he piss you off personally? The guy suffered through losing 2 wives and you are treating him like he is a bad person.
You should look in the mirror.
@@xr6lad Be quiet,the adults are talking.
I didn't know a troglodyte could type.
@@xr6lad Yeah, yeah. We get it. You're just bitter because he's managed to find two people to love him, whereas nobody loves you.
But really, it's rather hard to blame them. After all, you're you.
Nobody in Australia when this happened will ever forget the sight of that disintegrated mountain side. We really don't have those types of accidents here & haven't since then, it changed enourmous amounts of building codes and safety precautions. Specially site drainage.
The vision of Stuart Diver being rescued & lifted hand by hand down that horrifically unstable area was overwhelming & many thanks for the people who put their lives at risk to save him. His story of survival was incredible & completely heartbreaking & not one that Aussies have forgotten. We have a tendency not to forget disasters no matter how long ago it was. As we have a smaller population probably our awareness is more than many other countries. It doesn't necessarily mean we're any better at learning from our mistakes or holding those accountable up to prosecution. But most of us remember..............
I'm quite informed about many of your stories and therefore appreciate how much research and detail you give each item. Also the lack of random theories and rumour in place of verifiable facts, that is refreshing and some information about these stories I wasn't aware of. Love this attention to detail and the reason why I enjoy your channel and am a subscriber, truthfully I simply can't wait to see what you release next. The stories I have never heard before are fascinating and I believe your account to be accurate and honest, Bravo!!!!
Well done you & keep it coming.👍👍👍👍🇦🇺
I've never heard of this disaster, so thank you for covering it.
What I really like about this channel is that you cover disasters that might be well known in the country where they happened but that aren't necessarily more widely known, and you make a point to highlight changes that have been brought about since, often as a response to the disaster in question. This isn't something that many disaster channels do, so thank you for bringing that positive side out - and also for showing whatever memorials have been set up, too.
Love your work, please keep it up. It's always a day to see a new video from you.
On that science experiment everyone does as a kid, the one with the volcano, we had the option of demonstrating ANY geological event, so me and my buddy (who always aced our science projects...and we were considered tough guys, weird eh?) decided to do a landslide.
We got my grandpa's help to build a wooden box for the display, but that was it.
We made a little hill, added a layer of garbage bag to represent either a compacted layer or rock layer of strata, then more dirt on top. We decorated the hillside with little twigs we plucked for trees, and monopoly houses and hotels. Then, just a steady, gentle drizzle of water from a garden watering can, and the surface dirt slides off the plastic, utterly devastating Monopolyville below.
Literally everyone else did the stupid volcano, but we had done that at home for fun already.
That sound awesomely unique. I always liked to stay away from the boring crab every body else was doing to.. Great story. U got an A im guessing
Mine in the 8th grade was the effects of an iceberg as it melts. I had things frozen in the water to leave traces along the slope. Some other similar qualities to yours. That was in 1986.
@@joanysohayda7233 Yep. The next year we made a terrarium and had seeds growing, a spider made a web and had been eating, and our caterpillar completely metamorphized, and we all got to watch a moth hatch...while everyone's aquariums failed lol.
Aced that too.
@@davejones9469 now now that you're all grown up what to do in those projects teach you or how to benefit you just wondering
@@joanysohayda7233 Well for a while I was gung ho about all biology, so I started working with my friend importing rare fruits from SE Asia, growing and selling them. Things like finger limes, blood oranges, and many rare mandarins. He went to school for botany but I had a natural talent for gardening anyway. Worked well but we had a falling out.
Used to grow hot peppers every year too, herb gardens as well... but haven't been able to lately for time/personal reasons.
*Basically, I'll be able to grow my own food if/when the world goes to shit, so ive got that bargaining chip.
Its so strange seeing stories more recent like this. Actually being able to see Stuart is a wild experience. It makes it significantly more difficult to separate yourself from.
As long as stupid and/or apathetic people are in positions of authority disasters like this one will continue to happen, no matter how advanced technology becomes.
Thredbo is still functioning as a ski resort, it has a special relationship with me; I first learned to ski there in 1972. Until ill health forced me to give up ski-ing, I returned many times, but preferred the larger Perisher. We still drive along the Alpine Way between Jindabyne and Khancoban in summer pursuing fly fishing.
Stuart Diver is now General Manager of the Thredbo Resort - he never gave up on it!
I went to Thredbo with my family a few years after this happened. Seeing the terraces was surreal. I was surprised to see something Australian on this channel but even more surprised when I saw the credit for the photos was Che Lydia Xyang as they’re an old friend of mine 😅 love your work as a usual ☺️
It's been really cool to see this channel blow up over the last 6 or 8 months. The dude deserves it. Great content presented professionally and respectfully. Love it
And iconic music!
I just found this channel 1hr ago...already one of my favs. Dude is a legend!
Are you sure? Look at the Wikipedia article for this exact event, especially the part referring to the landslide, and you'll see it's practically the same thing with some words changed.
@@vitamc1213 even if that's the case it does not take away from his presentation style and general vibe of his videos. That's why me and many others keep coming back. You don't grow like his channel has in such a short time period by simply "reading Wikipedia articles". If anything I can respect him doing what he can to "stick to the facts" as it were. Why are you so bothered by a strangers opinion of a RUclips channel you clearly don't have much love for?
Well done on covering this one, this year marked the 25th anniversary of the disaster. It is ski season in Australia as well. I remember watching this in the news back then. They had rolling coverage of the rescue effort.
Me too. It was so heart wrenching
I live in Australia but surprised I’ve never heard of this event. Thx for raising awareness of it, so sad and I hope all affected, both dead and alive, have managed to find peace.
You never heard of Stuart Diver? There is a doco about it?!
@@ThankGodImAnAetheist Actually now that you say his name it does ring a bell I’ll need to try and watch the doco
Wow. This was huge in the news when it happened - I'm in SA.
@@mishellefire1660 I think I have heard about it but I wasn’t even born when it happened
Its probably not that surprising that you don't know that much about it if you weren't even born when it happened. There's also a movie based on it, it was pretty huge at the time. I was only 7 when it happened but I remember watching it on abc news and how horrifying it was for the adults around me
Interesting to see an Australian story. I was only 10 years old when this happened and I STILL remember watching the coverage non stop when they pulled Stuart diver out of the destruction. Wow what a moment.
If you’re looking at doing more Australian stories can I recommend the Granville train disaster?
There was a really good mini-series on the Granville Train Crash called the Day of the Roses.
I was 13, I remember this also and yeah when they pulled him out I remember being amazed! 🇦🇺
@@gray_mara I LOVE that mini series. It’s here on RUclips. I watched it again a few weeks ago. Phenomenal series
@@jessicad83 it was seriously unreal. Thinking that there was no hope and then all of a sudden they find life. I think we watched nothing else on tv for days
I remember too. There was a movie about it 'A Hero's Mountain'. A few years later Stuart remarried but sadly she died of breast cancer. Double tragedy. He spoke about it all on 60 Minutes in 2017. 🇦🇺❤
I was very young when this happened, but I remember seeing Stuart Diver being pulled out, and my mum was crying. It’s one of three events I remember very vividly from being a young child, along with Port Arthur and Princess Diana’s death.
Defining moments for me as well growing up in Australia
ooh, I love seeing an Australian story on this channel! Can I recommend the Beaconsfield mine collapse of 2006? Amazing story of survival, even if one person sadly didn't make it out. Keep up the great work with your videos!
I remember when that happened. It was an awesome moment when the two survivors finally got back to the surface.
Well I’m intrigued. Add my vote.
He has an email where you can send suggestions. Just look in the description and send him an email. He was courteous enough to respond when I sent suggestions :)
the Beaconsfield movie on prime is decent. those two lucky guys
Granville Rail disaster also.
I dunno if you take requests from comments, but the 1964 Cheadle Hulme Derailment might be worth covering. A train conductor was confident he knew a rail line he hadn't worked in a few months, didn't realize part of it was under construction, took a corner too fast, and derailed, injuring 27 and killing two 9-year-old children. Apparently even the locals aren't that aware of it.
Sounds like an ideal story for Fascinating Horror. Allow me to second your motion to include the Cheadle Hulme Derailment to the canon.
Wasn't he drunk as well?
Yes, please! And thank you! 💙
Gotta say mate your signature style, writing narration and overall feel in videos is just top notch stuff.
Thanks for all the content pal.
I remember this well. The rescue was on round the clock TV. I now live within 200km of Thredbo. Thanks for covering it, as respectfully as always
Thanks for doing some Australian stories mate.
Beaconsfield mining collapse might be of interest to you, it's a fantastic story of humans surviving.
Also, Black Saturday bushfires, 2011 Toowoomba floods (absolutely incredible footage) and more recently the 2020 bushfires that have been potentially the worst in history took place in QLD and NSW.
I still remember staying awake all night when they said Todd and Brant were coming out and was amazed to see them walk out. What a story
I remember both the Thredbo and Beaconsfield events and even now when I think back to the three people being alive and rescued I can’t help but have a mini panic attack. I just cannot imagine being in such small spaces for what must have felt like eternity without completely losing it!
All 3 men have my unconditional respect and admiration for what they endured 🤜🤛
@@RachelXKnight666 I loved that they both clocked out! 😆👌
@@adnamallerom4137 lmao same here. That was great
I’m only 34 but I remember all of these. I lived in qld in the 2011 floods and being flooded with nothing better to do, was part of the volunteer force that helped clean up and rescue animals. Amazing things happened amongst the tragedy, local Aussies being Aussies and helping each other 💙
Love FH!! Thanks for explaining & dignifying the end of life plight of those who sadly lost their lives in these extraordinary circumstances. May their memory never ever fade......
I remember watching this disaster unfold with the final rescue of Stuart Diver leading to huge cheers from all those on the site plus all those who watched on TV. It was shocking to watch let alone being on the seen working to rescue people.
Paul Featherstone was amazing in how dedicated he was supporting Stuart throughout his rescue. He gave an excellent interview about his experience and was self-deprecating, giving credit to all the rescue and support workers who worked tirelessly for days.
Great to see an Aussie story! I was in primary school when this happened, but I remember it vividly. Everyone had the TV switched to the live news reports, we were glued to the set as the rescuers worked against the clock to free him. Everyone was full of hope that he could be saved, the whole nation was behind him. We all held our collective breath until he was finally extricated safely after almost three days in the wreckage. Being the lone survivor of the disaster made Stewart Diver a bit of a household name. It was just heartbreaking that he lost his wife the way he did. I hope he’s doing well now.
I don't think I'll ever forget the relief I felt when Staurt was found alive, after days of grim news. I'm glad to see an Australian event pop up on the channel, keep up the great work!
Your coverage is always so respectful. I really appreciate your channel. Glad to see you are pushing the million mark. Well deserved.
7:40 .. this just broke my heart. Nobody deserves to see their loved one dead in front of them while they themselves are stuck in a life or death situation for 2 days.
I saw another comment saying he re-married 15 years later, and the second wife died of cancer. Guy's been through a lot!
@@quillmaurer6563 no. He married 3 years later. Not 15. He wasted no time. Oh and he wasted no time after his second wife died. In to his 3rd one already. Obviously willy needs lot of attention for this guy- no time for respect or grieving.
@@xr6lad How much time is the right amount? Is three years alone, probably suffering from all kinds of PTSD, not enough time? Unless you have intimate knowledge of his life and can make an informed judgement, then who are you to judge him?
@@davidhynd4435 Chances are that edgy lil shit xr6 has never grieved over a loved one...I'll bet good money on it.
@@davidhynd4435 Ignore him, he comments under every post, reminding people how terrible it is to find solace in another partner after your previous one tragically passed away. Especially hilarious in these times, where getting divorced is a common and accepted option. But apparently using the freedom after death did them part...
My uncle worked there at the time. He luckily was off that day and lived in a nearby suburb. I’m lucky to have my uncle here today and I’m glad he is here.
I'd love to have a podcast on spotify made by you that i could listen to when i drive. I love your content, no bullshit, no annoying intros or comments... Rare these days
Crazy to think I hit “subscribe’ when you had about 30k followers. Your success is awesome.
Thanks for covering an Aussie story. I was 19 when this happened and was glued to the tv at the time.
Thanks for doing an Australian story! I remember this as a child, such a devastating part of our history. I also read Derrick Hand's autobiography covering his time working on this disaster, fascinating read if anyone is interested.
5:00 - For some reason, the thing I've always remembered about this disaster was watching news video of the rescue going on at night, and seeing the large spherical glowing white lights shown in this photo. These devices had been invented for shooting movies and TV shows, and they provide very bright but very even illumination without glare or severe shadows. In the years since this, I've seen these lights in use by professional TV series crews in real life, and always think about them at this event.
Thank you for presenting this so sensitively. We were all glued to the tv watching the news coverage as it happened and the image of Stuart Diver being lifted out of the rubble is etched on the memories and hearts of countless Australians. I wonder if you might consider featuring an event from my home state of Tasmania: the Beaconsfield Mine Collapse of 2006. Another truly extraordinary story.
My aunt was in / around Thredbo when this happened, it was frightening that she and her family were so close to the disaster, and so lucky not to be caught up in it.
I watched this happen live on TV when I was 10. We didn't think anyone had survived and then when we heard there was a survivor we were all glued to the screen for hours. I clearly remember the image of Stuart being carried out, it was a huge moment (similar to the Beaconsfield miners). He instantly became a household name under tragic circumstances. What a brave man. 27 seems so young now. There was also a great tele movie made about it.
I literally haven't heard of the majority of the stories that you document. I am appreciative of you channel. Knowledge is amazing and in one day I have learned so much more about our tiny little world.
The made me cry. Hearing of Stuart's incredible survival makes the loses hurt so much more.
Such iconic intro /theme music. Please never change!
Me too, it’s very fitting.
Your way of making videos is astonishing. It's pro. Exposure, contextualization, chronological view of the events, conclusions of investigations, commentary/synthesis, conclusion. Transitions are smooth, narration is perfect. Great job.
I remember when this happened, watching the news coverage with my Dad, just waiting and hoping they would find survivors. When they found Stuart I think the whole country celebrated in that moment.
I was living in NSW at the time and this was a huge story... deeply distressing. You covered this well in such a short documentary. Stuart went on to have a very brief stint in the media -- but it is believed he then suffered severe PTSD which impacted him for some time after the tragedy. RIP and sincerest condolences to all who were affected by this event.
What incredible bravery and dedication from that paramedic.
I wasn't aware of this disaster until now, keep up the great work Fascinating Horror!
There was a landslide near my hometown in a tiny little beach town called La Conchita. A man lost his wife and three of his four daughters to it. He was a locally “famous” musician and artsy type guy and the neighboring towns and communities were really affected. It was a sad time.
I remember watching this happen. So many emotions, devastation and elation.
The chap who researches and narrates these fascinating horror stories is such a professional. He always makes them informative and interesting. He deserves the followings he has.
That’s that Aussie humor and presence of mind: “I can hear you, and my feet are bloody cold”
I'm shocked this channel is not way bigger than it is it definitely deserves more
Always glad to see there's a new video. Most of the incidents you cover I only learn of because of this channel. You're doing a great thing by keeping histories alive.
Aussie here just pleased to see someone talking about something that was so impactful on my childhood. I remember watching this as it unfolded the regular cuts to the scene, the pain on the people and the astonishment when Stuart Diver was found. It was my first exposure to mass casualty events and the power of humans.
I just have to say: I love your voice and your way of telling us all these disasters! Thank you for your work!
I went to Thredbo with an ex, not realising it was the exact 20 year anniversary of the landslide. I got some photos of news crews filming & also lots of the memorial. It was eerie, realising we were there at an important date.
Thanks for covering this! It was huge at the time, not only because it was such a tragedy but we were all on tenterhooks hoping they’d get Stuart out alive. It was just one person rescued so we had so much invested in seeing him emerge from the rubble like a miracle
I was a kid when this happened and everyone in the country was glued to the news, desperate for a positive outcome for Stuart Diver. I'd forgotten about it until seeing this but I remember watching his rescue vividly.
I watched it happen live on TV from Sydney. Great joy was felt all over Australia when the rescuers carried him down on a stretcher. It was incredible to see a survivor nine long days after the landslide Those rescuers worked bloody hard.
I live in the Snowy Region, and I am happy to see some lesser known Australian stories getting covered.
I first learnt about this disaster during my first family ski trip to Thredbo in the year 2000, we stayed in the lodge immediately next to the site of the 97 landslide. It was still very evident what had happened there just a few years earlier and the walls weren't built yet.
The fact that Mr. Diver was able to maintain such a genial attitude after what he'd been through is truly astounding. Surviving the disaster, losing his wife, being stuck by her body, facing the prospect of a slow death himself... it's too much to think about. Landslides, avalanches, and collapses are the closest most people will come to actually being buried alive; what a horrible thought.
I would really like to see a video about the town of Frank in Canada and the Frank slide. You have a captivating narrating style and a voice that commands attention. Great content!
Ooooh! Ask and you shall receive!
This was a terrible tragedy and it still haunts me knowing how suddenly things can turn dreadful. This was one of the first disasters I remember on the news and understanding that life is fragile.
"Lessons were learned ... but at an extremely high cost" as said at the very end of this video is basically the motto of this channel
I'm Australian and I remember this disaster very well, though it happened when I was about eleven. It was all over the news, of course, and I remember seeing the report on TV saying that they'd found someone alive against all the odds. I even read poor Mr Diver's book about his experiences when I found it in the school library. And I saw the site of the disaster later on, before they rebuilt. Thredbo really is a beautiful place, even outside the skiing season.
I remember when this happened. I was a child but it was heavily reported by the news 24/7. Someone I would later work with as an adult was a reporter on the ground during the rescue of Stuart.
I remember being in grade 7 watching as Stuart Diver was pulled out. I don’t think I’ll ever forget.
i clearly remember stopping dead in my tracks and staring at the tv as they dragged Stuart Diver out. After so many days it was mind blowing.
Thank you. Your content is always well researched and compelling. I look forward to watching them. ❤
I lived about 40 minutes from Thredbo when this happened and grew up I’m the mountains. One of my old bosses was a tiler and did some work in a chalet about 200 metres from where he was able to park. (Parking in Thredbo is notoriously hard to get to) summer time is very busy with tradespeople. Stuart was the labourer on the job and had to run up and down the mountain with boxes of tiles, glue, tools, lunches etc and nobody could believe how incredibly fit this guy was, doing 2-3 trips to everyone else’s one. He’s an extraordinary human and a nice guy by all accounts.
Such a great video, as always. You not only explain the disaster in good detail (with understandable explanation) but you also talk about what the causes are and the hubris that causes such disasters. I watch this show because you show high distinction from other channels. I would really like to see a video on the death of Timothy Treadwill, as you made one about Christopher Mcandless. I really love your content, and keep doing what you are doing!
I was 7 years old when this happened. Thanks for the throw back... I really do remember people talking about it.
2 years before the incident my family visited Threadbo. When we returned to South Australia we often found people didn't know where it was, though many knew Jindabyne, which is a town nearby.
After the incident no one ever forgot.
I also remember as teen the media of the event. During the rescue there was round the clock coverage, with some TV Channels filming the entire time, I remember going out with a mate to the local shopping centre (shopping mall for those outside Australia) and it was so quite, there were some people shopping and carrying on as normal but many people were home watching the TV to see if Stuart Diver would be saved.
I was 13 at the time BTW.
Interesting as always... I enjoy listening to your commentary over, "hard lessons in life" stories as I work. Keep up the amazing work! Can't wait that more
Thanks for doing another Australian one
2:15am here in Washington State US.
Sending love to everyone who reads this… ❤️
These stories are tragic and I appreciate the effort put into finding silver linings and changes made after these horrific events. For me, often the takeaway is the absolute intense resilience of humanity. The idea that someone could go through what Mr. Diver went through and live a life afterwards is nothing short of heroic. I genuinely don’t think I would be able to keep on after something like that and hearing of people who can and do gives me hope.
I'm new here. I just wanted to thank you for including your sources of information. Credibility is key. Great video on all levels but the sources make me stay and subscribe. Cheerio!
You never cease to impress me with these videos. Excellent job, and I always look forward to what you have next
I remember this happening very well, especially living within a certain distance of the snow field’s.
This guy definitely went through an incredibly tough time, but it amazed me somewhat how the authorities basically claimed him to be some kind of “Hero” instead of the victim/survivor he really was.
The true heroes, the one’s that actually risked their lives in order to save him almost received no public mention, while “Diver” appears in just about every single kind of media format possible, he was literally on a media tour being celebrated as a hero, yet in truth, all he did was survive and await rescue.
It was only after seeing how the media handled this story, that rescue teams were actually given the credit etc that the genuinely deserved. Victims were no longer considered heroes following this either.
The volunteers that basically operate the emergency services, fire service etc are truly amazing individuals, the people that actually do the work to save lives should never be forgotten.
This happened when I was a kid and it always all over the tv. Bloody miracle Stuart made it. Good on him mate
The fact that Stuart survived is amazing.
Bro you're gonna totally hit 1M by the end of the year! Awesome!!!! Well deserved!
Love your videos! Always learning new things from them. Thank you!!! ❤️
I remember this from when I was a kid. I Didn't really understand what was going on, but I was really mad about it happening because they cut to a special news broadcast about it right at a dramatic moment in a cartoon I was watching (Duck tales I think?)
I lived and worked there when it happened, I had those skis, and Stuart has had the saddest of lives losing both his Sallies. One of my friends lost her best friend and had just left after having dinner when it happened. It was terrible.
I was very pregnant with my second child when this happened. I was glued to the news. There was such a huge cheer when Stuart Diver was found. I even read his book years later and Stuart was such an inspirational guy.
Great video. I still remember watching live on TV when Stuart Diver was pulled out. It was an unbelievable moment.
I don't always comment but i enjoy your stories and they are all very sad and crazy when things go so wrong. I am a subscriber for more than two years so keep the stories coming.
This was a life changing experience, I was part of the rescue team, myself and my buddy found the 16th body - I have only just realised I no longer remember their name, now I wonder if I ever knew it.
In the early moments afterwards the scene was crawling with non professionals digging in and moving rubble, I understand why, but so dangerous, I always consider it the biggest miracle that more of those people didn’t get injured or become trapped themselves.
After watching dozens of these great videos, I finally got tripped up: first dent in the armor! :D (2:55) "At around 11:30 a.m. on the evening of July 30th..." Keep up the great content, FH! Love your style and efficiency.
You acknowledge its two separate sentences. Tey again homie. Also don't make a game of videos that pay respects to those that lost their lives
I remember this when it happened, but had few details so thanks for filling in the story. Like all landslides, unexpected with tragic results. Another one worth covering is perhaps the Hope Slide in British Columbia in the 1960s. So much rock fell off the mountain side that 3 cars were buried and never recovered. As for our Stuart, the human story in all this, what a guy to survive this ordeal.
A piece of history that I wouldn't have heard of. Thank you
2:53 I think you mean PM if it's in the evening. Thanks for covering an Australian story! :)
Went on a holiday here when I was little, had no idea such a disaster had happened here. Great video as always!
Wow can't believe it's 25 years ago! Thanks again for great content and stories
Anyone else ever realised he never puts mid rolls or even ad segments on his videos ? Respect