Khaberni - In one of the strangest survival stories of the modern era, a couple wrote a new chapter in human challenge, after enduring 66 days lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, following a sudden whale attack that sank their yacht and turned their dream trip into a terrifying nightmare, relying on fishing and consuming raw fish, and desalinating seawater with primitive means, until they were eventually rescued.
William and Simon Butler were on a sailing trip attempting to circumnavigate the globe aboard a 40-foot yacht, when a group of whales surrounded their boat and sank it, about 1200 miles off the coast of Costa Rica, just three weeks after beginning their journey, according to "People" magazine.
American newspapers have revisited this incident again, despite it occurring more than three decades ago, following the death of both William and Simon Butler.
Decisive action
In the moments of sinking, the couple managed to grab limited amounts of food and fishing gear, along with a small handheld device known as "Survivor-35" weighing about 7 pounds, which works to convert saltwater into drinkable water, before moving to a rubber boat which was their only means of survival.
This quick action was crucial, as the couple remained stuck in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for 66 days. For over two months, they primarily relied on fishing and consuming raw fish, alongside just three liters of fresh water a day, which William, then aged 60, manually extracted using the device.
From inside the hospital, William later explained that they fished daily, saying: "I forced myself to eat nearly two kilograms of raw fish daily, and I forced my wife to eat it too."
Despite this, each of them lost about 50 pounds during their ordeal at sea."
At the end of the ordeal, the Costa Rican coast guard found the couple, and they were transferred to a hospital in the coastal city of Golfito, where doctors confirmed that their health was relatively stable, except for severe dehydration and sunburns.
High risks
During their time at sea, the couple faced additional dangers, including potential shark attacks and mass feeding frenzies by fish. After returning to the United States, William said: "It's hard to believe that just seven days ago, we were still at sea trying to reach land."
The couple mentioned receiving offers to turn their story into a book or a movie, but they preferred to stay away from the sea for a while.
