Do you believe the Lost at Sea story?

[MarkFromSea]

Although the castaway had lived illegally in Mexico for 15 years, he was born and raised in El Salvador.

[McheleM]

Originally Posted by normarae63

But see, there's anotber issue I have with this story. Where the heck did his equipment go? What was be able to get the fish with?

I dunno but it's one current event I'll be following.

Right... It said he caught fish, birds and turtles with HIS BARE HANDS.

Surely a commercial fisherman would have equipment to catch fish with, yet none was mentioned.

[MarkFromSea]

Originally Posted by McheleM

Right... It said he caught fish, birds and turtles with HIS BARE HANDS.

Surely a commercial fisherman would have equipment to catch fish with, yet none was mentioned.

"By Alvarenga's account, he survived more than 14 months adrift by eating birds, fish and turtles he caught with his hands. He quenched his thirst with rainwater and even his own urine, he said."

his hands..... but yes there are some questions surrounding his story... also, not sure how many spanish speaking people are interpreting what he is saying... interpretation.... a inventory of his boat would be cool to look at but unlikely.

I use "hand" lines and do quite well.... he as a shark fisherman may have used hand lines... interpretation may be in correct.

[MarkFromSea]

I read this book about a year ago... "Unbroken" it's a good read! Here's a review of the book, a true story.

This review is from: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program (What's this?)
I read this book in two days flat and I know that, had I had the time, I would have read it in one sitting. This is a book that grips you, draws you in and leaves you feeling a slightly better person for having read it.

The story is that of Louie Zamperini - a track and field star of the 1930's, who participated in the Berlin olympics, was part of the US air force in WWII, was shot down over the ocean, was adrift in the Pacific for over a month, was held as a POW by the Japanese forces and finally made it back to his life and has had the courage to live it to its fullest.

Hillenbrand is a marvellous author. I was never tempted to read Seabiscuit and this was my first introduction to her work. She is one of a few authors who can write a non fiction story in the most gripping and vivid way imaginable. Instead of being flowery or overly embellished her prose relies squarely on research and on witness accounts and yet manages to never be dull. The swiftly moving story takes the reader from Zamperini's early beginnings, his swift rise to track star, the Berlin olympics and then to the World War. This is where the story really blooms. Hillenbrand settles in for the long haul here and we get to see the air force and the B24 bombers through the words of the men who actually flew them. The sequences where Zamperini and his friend Phil are adrift at sea are vivid and strangely beautifully described. The horrors that await them at the Japanese prison camps are not glossed over but neither does Hillenbrand wallow in the gore and violence as some authors may be tempted to do. There is always a strong sense of the respect the author holds for the men whose story she is being allowed to tell.

History has perhaps focused its eye too exclusively on the war in Europe to the extent where the situation in the Pacific and the plight of POW's there has not recieved the attention and the respect it deserves. Hillenbrand's book and detailed research certainly makes a strong attempt to change that.

Solidly based on statistics and army reports from both sides of the war, Hillenbrands book paints a clear picture of the hellish conditions that the POW's endured and the utter madness of the war that was being waged in the Pacific. This is a hard story to read but one that is well worth it. The falling apart of Louie's life and his slow path to regaining his life and sense of purpose is a story that is truly inspiring. This book will find a permanent place of honor on my bookshelf.
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[Wylie's Mom]

My feeling is that it's probably true. Probably.

[capt_noonie]

I've never seen a sunburned brown person before. Just saying.

Also this man only speaks Spanish. Isn't there at least one tiny chance his words were lost in the translation?

[yorkietalkjilly]

Well, the only times I've noticed brown-skinned people tanned was when we would go to Acapulco (we went 6 times in about 5 years) and we would always go see the cliff-divers. They were so much darker than the rest if the staff that worked for the hotel year after year. Those that worked on the beach in swimming trunks in the sun all day were also quite darker than those that worked inside. And my friend who is a Mexican and brown-skinned works in the sun during the summer and he gets quite a bit darker those months than he is in winter. But none of these men were out in the sun and wind all day long for over a year and still they got darker in the sun than the castaway is in his pictures. Course, maybe it was cloudy and overcast for the castaway's last month afloat, he stayed under a tarp/cover or his skin just doesn't darken but his relatively pale color, lack of wasting or cracked lips or lack of weathered look are what made me think he might be fudging on his tale. His turn for the worse and hospitalization sure speaks to his having been through something pretty tough.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I've never seen a sunburned brown person before. Just saying.

My nephews are brown and can still burn. Looks like they are wearing rouge. You are right though that it isn't as readily apparent on darker skin people unless it is to the point where they peel.

I didn't read the story closely, only looked at the pictures. Made me think of Survivor contestants who spend only 39 days deprived. Even the ones who are good at catching seafood and who win big food rewards end up more gaunt than this man. That includes the contestants who start out with weight to spare and round faces.

But, sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

[Rhetts_mama]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

I'd certainly expect someone alone at sea living for a year only on only seafood, birds and turtles and no fats or sugar in his sparse diet would be severely emaciated and certainly sunburned. But this guy didn't look like an emaciated man who was swollen due to dehydration/organ failure to me and he didn't look sunburned with those crusted, swollen lips and tongue and severely weather-burned face, bleached eyelashes, eyebrows and hair, etc. His arms and legs looked quite substantial. I couldn't see any bones showing through. IDK, he's not the picture I had of what a man would look like after being through the ordeal of floating on the ocean for a year in all kinds of weather with little food or water. And how does one catch a seabird from a boat? I didn't realize there were that many birds flying near enough the ocean's surface in the middle of the ocean very far from land for a weak man to catch one frequently enough he lists it as a food source. Sounds fishy so far.

[yorkietalkjilly]

It's probably better not to besmirch anyone's religious beliefs and faith that they hold dear and believe to their core in any discussion if you want your points to reasonably make any inroads. It's pointless to discuss one's religious faith or lack of same in this discussion.

IDK if the castaway is a liar, attention-seeking, mentally ill or telling the truth, just saying his appearance isn't what one would expect a castaway for over a year in the sun and wind with little to eat would look like. He looks just like anybody else who's had a bad few days and not ill or battered - better than some who've just had this winter's flu for two weeks! He could have done it for sure as people survive all kinds of improbably things looking while still looking great and in great shape for what they've been through but none compare to him. I remember how ill Baby Jessica looked in pictures after spending a few days in that well and things like that - I guess that's what I'm comparing him to. Maybe when we know more and he explains how he managed to escape wasting and weathering, it will all fall into place and make more sense. But if he's that enterprising as to survive and stay afloat through storms and waves, leaks in the boat, hunger, thirst and sun and make that long trek all alone and looks this good after what he says he's been through, by the time he's 90 years old, he'll probably still look like he's barely 50! Talk about good genes!

And he could sure manage on those starvation Survivor shows and put all those other skinny gamers to shame, couldn't he, Kristin? I remember that one blonde nurse that won the game that year was just down to skin and bones in her month or so on the show.

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

It's probably better not to besmirch anyone's religious beliefs and faith that they hold dear and believe to their core in any discussion if you want your points to reasonably make any inroads. It's pointless to discuss one's religious faith or lack of same in this discussion.

IDK if the castaway is a liar, attention-seeking, mentally ill or telling the truth, just saying his appearance isn't what one would expect a castaway for over a year in the sun and wind with little to eat would look like. He looks just like anybody else who's had a bad few days and not ill or battered - better than some who've just had this winter's flu for two weeks! He could have done it for sure as people survive all kinds of improbably things looking while still looking great and in great shape for what they've been through but none compare to him. I remember how ill Baby Jessica looked in pictures after spending a few days in that well and things like that - I guess that's what I'm comparing him to. Maybe when we know more and he explains how he managed to escape wasting and weathering, it will all fall into place and make more sense. But if he's that enterprising as to survive and stay afloat through storms and waves, leaks in the boat, hunger, thirst and sun and make that long trek all alone and looks this good after what he says he's been through, by the time he's 90 years old, he'll probably still look like he's barely 50! Talk about good genes!

And he could sure manage on those starvation Survivor shows and put all those other skinny gamers to shame, couldn't he, Kristin? I remember that one blonde nurse that won the game that year was just down to skin and bones in her month or so on the show.

Exactly my point. You can't discuss or debate anyone's religion, whether it makes sense or not. Yet the same people want proof and answers beyond a reasonable doubt for things like this in modern times.

Maybe it was by the grace of God alone that he survived and you guys are questioning it.

[Lovetodream88]

Degrading someones religion is wrong whether it is none or something else. It's also against the rules to talk about religion...... People want proof of everything that's how it works I have enough proof to believe my religion but I'm not sure people want proof this guy did it they just have questions they would like answers to. Like what all was on the boat and stuff not nessisarily proof.

[capt_noonie]

I'm not degrading anyone's religion.

What if he prayed to God to help him so he didn't die. What proof do you guys want?

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I'm not degrading anyone's religion.

What if he prayed to God to help him so he didn't die. What proof do you guys want?

I said I don't think it's proof that is being looked for just some questions answered.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Exactly my point. You can't discuss or debate anyone's religion, whether it makes sense or not. Yet the same people want proof and answers beyond a reasonable doubt for things like this in modern times.

Maybe it was by the grace of God alone that he survived and you guys are questioning it.

I disagree. We're simply engaging in a discussion of the pro's and con's of his story - nothing bigger or more vital than that. But comparing belief in this man's story to that of belief in what is considered holy and the very foundation document of one of the world's great religions is rather overblown and crude for your purposes, don't you think?