# Last Kon-Tiki crewman dies **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 2, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-kon-tiki-crewman-dies/523407 "2010-01-02T16:35:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-kon-tiki-crewman-dies/523407/1 "2010-01-02T16:35:09Z")
[Last Kon-Tiki raft crewman Knut Haugland dies](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126213147006109553.html) > [@](#): > > Knut Haugland, who died Dec. 25 at age 92, was the last surviving crew member of the Kon-Tiki, which sought to demonstrate under the leadership of Thor Heyerdahl that ancient mariners might have colonized Polynesia from the South American mainland. Heyerdahl’s theory has since been disproved; but even so, he showed that it was theoretically possible on the 101-day journey. I’ve been noticing _Kon-Tiki_ on the DVD shelf recently (coincidentally, on Christmas Day). I’m going to have to watch it again soon. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-kon-tiki-crewman-dies/523407/2 "2010-01-02T17:18:37Z")
Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-kon-tiki-crewman-dies/523407/3 "2010-01-02T20:42:45Z")
He was also [a decorated member of the Norwegian Resistance](http://www.newsinenglish.no/News/hauglandobit.html) during World War II. This guy did not want to lead a boring life, that’s pretty clear. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-kon-tiki-crewman-dies/523407/4 "2010-01-02T22:26:13Z")
He lived a helluva life, that’s for sure! Setting off on a balsa raft, before GPS and satellite phones, and with a war-surplus radio and before many of the rescue services that we have today were available… Amazing. I’m definitely going to watch the DVD this weekend. It’s the Romantic in me. I’m old enough to remember when there were no video games or home computers or cable TV, and when people went out and _did_ things. Seeing those people setting out on the expedition – especially one with a point – reminds me how small the world has become. And what an adventure! Anyway, I’m a sucker for 16mm film shot on wind-up cameras. 😉 What an amazing journey Mr. Haugland had on this planet. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-kon-tiki-crewman-dies/523407/5 "2010-01-03T04:57:05Z")
Well, they did say it would be a dangerous trip. As a kid, I watched that docu every chance I got (pre VCR DVD DVR. Had to rely on reruns on a UHF channel. With no remote control even. In B&W)