Are there any reports of true stories of someone being stranded on an island for long periods of time and then being discovered on a makeshift boat and being rescued like in the movie Castaway?
-M
Alexander Selkirk was the inspiration for Defoes ‘Robinson Crusoe’, but he asked to be left on an island (rather than get stranded) after quarrelling with the captain. He was well provisioned (moreso than Hanks) but did not have an easy time. He was picked up by a passing ship over 4 years later, which spotted his smoke. He had trouble adjusting to normal life again and built a hut in a cave to try to relive his island experience.
As to being picked up in a makeshift raft, having been deserted on an island - good question.
I can’t think of any instances in “modern times” but the Dafoe story Robinson Crusoe is based on the true story ofAlexander Selkirk, who was marooned for about four years before being rescued.
Heh, cool simulpost ChalkPit!
Gotya by a millisecond perhaps…lol
Captain Bligh and some of his faithfull crewmen were set adrift by the Bounty mutineers. they had a remarkable journey before being rescued.
Does being lost at sea, drifting nearly 4000km over 6 months in a 7m aluminium boat count?
I think the OP is concerned with being deserted on an island, then escaping from it in a home made raft, if not, then there are dozens of ‘adrift-at-sea’ stories to fill this thread.
Members of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s expedition to the South Pole were marooned on a deserted island for a considerable period after crossing the southern ocean in lifeboats, their ship having been destroyed by pack ice. Shackleton and a small party proceeded heroically on to South Georgia in a life boat from where they arranged to rescue the others. Quite probably one of the most amazing examples of courage and determination ever.
I seem to remember this story from the 60s about seven people getting stranded on an island for a while. There was the skipper, his first mate, a millionaire and his wife, a movie star and the rest. I forget the name of the place, however. 
Zev Steinhardt