It’s a story that reads like something out of a movie. Four teenagers from Rosebud beach, Australia set off Monday evening on two stand-up paddle boards with no life jackets and no cell phones. After getting caught in strong winds, they drifted for a total of 19 miles in the “cold choppy” waters of Port Phillip Bay before being found alive on an island the next morning.
As soon as the teens left the beach, they knew they were in trouble. With no life vests and no cell phones, their chances for survival seemed slim. But despite their situation, the teens managed to keep calm and stay together throughout their ordeal. This may have been due to their preparedness; the group had studied survival techniques together as part of their high school studies.
Luck also played a role in this remarkable story; though they spent hours drifting in the open water with no protection from the elements or predators, none of the teens encountered any danger during their journey. Additionally, Victoria Police reported that favorable weather conditions helped them make it safely to shore. Without these strokes of luck, this story may have ended very differently.
It wasn’t just luck that helped these four teens survive—it was also community support. Members of local surf lifesaving clubs joined forces with police officers and volunteers to search for the missing teens after receiving reports from witnesses at Rosebud beach who had seen them leave earlier that night. Thanks to these dedicated individuals’ tireless efforts, all four were located safe and sound on an island near Queenscliff early Tuesday morning.
The incredible story of four teenagers surviving a 19-mile drift in Australian waters is proof that even when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, preparation and resolve can go a long way toward finding success—especially when bolstered by good luck and community support.
