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Two Teenagers Drifted for Seven Days in the Atlantic Ocean After Navigation Problems on a 4.5-Meter Boat, Covering About 178 Kilometers Without Communication, with Limited Supplies, Until Being Located by Rescue Teams After Extended Maritime Searches
On April 24, 2005, Americans Troy Driscoll, 15, and Josh Long, 17, disappeared after being swept away by a rip current off the coast of South Carolina. They drifted for seven days in a 4.5-meter boat, covering 178 kilometers and survived until rescue, despite extreme hunger, dehydration, and burns.
Departure for Fishing and the Start of the Disappearance
It was a typically considered Sunday morning when Troy and Josh, high school students in South Carolina, decided to go fishing in the ocean. They used a 4.5-meter boat and set off without anticipating severe changes in maritime conditions.
Just minutes after entering the water, the two were surprised by an extremely strong rip current.
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In less than 20 minutes, they had already been swept away from the coastal area, starting a disappearance that would last for days.
In an interview given in May 2005, Josh reported that the plan was to position the boat between the beach and a sandbar. However, the force of the current prevented any maneuver to return, even after attempts to drop the anchor.
Frustrated Attempts to Return and Loss of Reference
According to Josh, the boat continued drifting continuously. Hours passed without anyone realizing the situation of the teenagers. They tried to wave to people on the shore, but were not seen. As night fell, visual references disappeared.
The last recognizable image was that of the towers on the coast that guide cargo ships. When dawn broke the next day, there was no land in sight.
The open ocean became the only horizon. Without communication, they could only wait and pray, as reported later.
Josh had left his cell phone in the truck parked at the dock. The boat had no radio or emergency equipment. Without means of contact, the families realized their absence, and around 10 PM that Sunday, they alerted the Coast Guard.
Official Searches and Change in Operation Status
The Coast Guard initiated a search operation involving boats, helicopters, planes and the support of recreational boaters. The search area expanded as days passed without any sign of the small boat.
Less than three days after departure, there were still no indications of the teenagers’ location. In the absence of results, the mission was reclassified as a recovery operation. For the parents, the fear of a fatal outcome became increasingly present.
Meanwhile, in the ocean, Troy and Josh remained alive but in critical condition. The urgent need for drinking water, food, and medical attention became the main challenge for survival, amidst constant exposure to the sun, nighttime cold, and humidity.
Survival in Extreme Conditions in the Open Sea
Josh reported that the two remained soaked and clung to each other at night to try to keep warm, which made sleep nearly impossible. During the day, the heat was intense, leading them to dive briefly to cool off.
This strategy was abandoned after the appearance of sharks near the boat. From that moment on, the teenagers stayed on board, facing high temperatures and increasing dehydration. The water around them turned crystal clear, described as “blue Gatorade.”
Thirst drove Troy to beg for a drink of seawater. Josh warned him that drinking saltwater could be fatal. In a later episode, a light drizzle allowed Josh to attempt to catch drops with his mouth open, but the rain was insufficient.
Desperate, he started licking the water that had accumulated on the deck of the boat. As days passed, both began to show signs of delirium. Troy reported that Josh woke up screaming that they were at a store buying Mountain Dew, revealing the mental confusion caused by deprivation.
Extreme Hunger and Ingestion of Jellyfish
The hunger became so intense that Troy decided to eat a jellyfish, even without knowing if it would be poisonous. He reported waiting the whole night to see if he would survive after ingestion. Since there was no immediate reaction, he repeated the act several times.
According to Troy, he ate around 100 jellyfish over the days. The texture was described as slimy and gooey, but it became the only available food source. At another critical moment, Troy considered cutting a finger to eat.
Josh recalled that his friend asked for help to get out of that situation or be killed, a request he refused to fulfill. Maintaining the bond between the two was crucial to get through the most severe period of drifting, marked by physical and emotional exhaustion.
Rescue After Seven Days and Medical Attention
The nightmare ended on Saturday, April 30, 2005, seven days after their initial departure. Two fishermen spotted the small boat adrift 178 kilometers from the departure point and 11 kilometers from Cape Fear.
One of the fishermen, Ben Degutis, 70, told PEOPLE that he initially did not recognize the object in the sea. As he approached, he noticed people waving. One of the youths was repeatedly yelling “Thank God,” signaling the end of the ordeal.
After the rescue, Troy and Josh were taken to a hospital. It was found that Josh had lost 30 pounds. Troy remained hospitalized for three days due to second-degree burns on his face and feet, caused by prolonged sun exposure.
Troy’s father told PEOPLE that finding his son was like witnessing a new birth. He described the joy felt as immense. Even after the experience, the two teenagers planned to reunite to celebrate.
Josh said that while they were adrift, they imagined sharing a big commemorative sundae. The idea symbolized the expectation of survival and complete recovery after days marked by extreme hunger, constant fear, and physical endurance beyond the limit.
JESUS CRISTO SALVOU OS DOIS!!!
JESUS CRISTO CAMINHO VERDADE VIDA.
NINGUÉM VEM AO PAI SENÃO PELO FILHO
Sem querer parecer insensível, mas onde foram parar os equipamentos de pesca (pescar alimento)? Quem sai para pescar num barco e não leva um recipiente com água potável, caixa térmica para os pescados, caixas para iscas e acessórios, que poderiam ser usadas para recolher agua da chuva? Estranha essa história.
São dois adolescentes, que iria passar algumas horas pescando, devem ter levado pouca água, já fiz isso quando adolescente, mas deu certo, porém adolescente não faz gestão de risco.
Jesus estava no barco com eles.