# Castaways? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 12, 2003, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/castaways/160781 "2003-03-12T07:46:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CelraySoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@CelraySoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelraySoda)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/castaways/160781/1 "2003-03-12T07:46:56Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![ChalkPit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@ChalkPit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChalkPit)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/castaways/160781/2 "2003-03-12T08:05:17Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/castaways/160781/3 "2003-03-12T08:05:48Z")
I can’t think of any instances in “modern times” but the Dafoe story _Robinson Crusoe_ is based on the true story of[Alexander Selkirk](http://www.visitdunkeld.com/robinson-crusoe.htm), who was marooned for about four years before being rescued. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/castaways/160781/4 "2003-03-12T08:08:18Z")
Heh, cool simulpost **ChalkPit**! ---
**Author:** ![ChalkPit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@ChalkPit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChalkPit)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/castaways/160781/5 "2003-03-12T08:39:34Z")
Gotya by a millisecond perhaps…lol ---
**Author:** ![herman\_and\_bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@herman\_and\_bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herman_and_bill)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/castaways/160781/6 "2003-03-12T11:29:51Z")
Captain Bligh and some of his faithfull crewmen were set adrift by the Bounty mutineers. they had a remarkable journey before being rescued. ---
**Author:** ![mecaenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mecaenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mecaenas)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/castaways/160781/7 "2003-03-12T11:56:43Z")
Does being **[lost at sea, drifting nearly 4000km over 6 months](http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/auspac/11/12/wsamoa.survival/)** in a 7m aluminium boat count? ---
**Author:** ![ChalkPit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@ChalkPit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChalkPit)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/castaways/160781/8 "2003-03-12T14:11:33Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/castaways/160781/9 "2003-03-12T14:28:27Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/castaways/160781/10 "2003-03-12T14:31:13Z")
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