Channel: Dark5

Category: Education

Tags: castawaylostislandsurvivor

Description: Although most castaways dream of returning home as soon as possible, that was not the case with bushcraft and survivalist Tom Neale. Born in New Zealand in 1902, the outdoors enthusiast became enthralled with the island of Anchorage in the Suwarrow atoll in the South Pacific Ocean after hearing about it from a fellow traveler. In 1952, Neale arrived at the island with only two cats, several water tanks, a hut, and a couple of books. Once on the lad, he encountered remnants left by World War II coastwatchers such as a boat, feral pigs, and chickens. During his first stay, Neale hunted pigs for food, planted a garden, repaired the ship, and domesticated the chickens. However, after suffering a back injury two years into his adventure, he was forced to return to civilization to receive medical care. While waiting for his back to heal, Neale got married and had two children. But despite now having a family, he returned to the island by himself in 1960 with enough provisions to survive three and a half years. In January of 1964, Neale left the island voluntarily as pearl divers invaded the area and ruined his peace and quiet. Neale's story became known in 1966 when he published his autobiography ‘An Island to Oneself: The Story of Six Years on a Desert Island.’ He then returned for a third and last time to the atoll in 1967, remaining for an entire decade this time. A yacht eventually found him gravely ill and lying on the beach. As he was taken to the hospital, he was diagnosed with a terminal illness and passed away eight months later.