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Stranded Survivors: Teens Eat Jellyfish, Found 111 Miles Out
6 Dec
Summary
- Two teenage friends were lost at sea for seven days.
- They survived by eating jellyfish and licking dew from the boat deck.
- Fishermen found them 111 miles off the coast, adrift and dehydrated.
In April 2005, 15-year-old Troy Driscoll and 17-year-old Josh Long embarked on a fishing trip off the coast of North Charleston, South Carolina, that turned into a terrifying ordeal. Within minutes of setting out, a powerful riptide pulled their boat far offshore, leaving them stranded without communication or emergency supplies. As days turned into a week, their parents initiated a desperate Coast Guard search, which eventually shifted to a recovery mission.
Facing extreme conditions, the boys endured thirst by licking dew from the boat and hunger by consuming jellyfish, a desperate measure to survive. They battled dehydration, hypothermia at night, and the terrifying presence of sharks. Hallucinations set in as their bodies weakened. "I was so hungry I ate a jellyfish and waited overnight to see if it would kill me," Troy recalled, highlighting the extreme measures taken.
Their miraculous survival concluded seven days after they were first lost, when two fishermen spotted their small boat 111 miles from shore near Cape Fear. Rescued and hospitalized, Josh had lost 30 pounds, while Troy was treated for second-degree burns. Their reunion with family marked a profound moment of relief and gratitude, a stark contrast to the despair they had faced at sea.
