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Survival at sea a hoax?
Ten days later, the two men from Myanmar who Scott reported were rescued from a floating refrigerator and supposedly survived 25 days at sea with little nourishment are back in the news, but this time because authorities are calling their survival story a hoax. The men were on a Thai fishing boat off the northern coast of Australia, and it was deemed pointless to search for other survivors, as the waters and conditions in the area are sharky and stormy at best.
The latest doubts that the men's story is true mainly derives from the implausibility that two men could survive that long floating in such terrible conditions with little nourishment. The two men claim they are the only survivors of a Thai fishing boat accident around Christmastime that killed 18 people. They said they survived on rainwater and bird vomit. If you're already raising your eyebrows, you should, but the real skepticism should be that one of the young men seemed to be unaffected by this long journey at sea. He showed little evidence of sun exposure. In addition, the icebox showed no signs of saltwater damage even after enduring 25 days in the rough ocean.
The men have been transferred to mainland Australia, where they continue to be questioned about the validity of their story. Authorities now believe the men used the story to escape their native home of Myanmar and seek asylum. This has the makings of a Cuban Elian Gonzalez story, doesn't it?
Either the men are lying or the skeptics are wrong, but either way, it's still a pretty cool survival story not to be attempted again.
[via AFP and Australia's MSN 9 News]
Filed under: Stories, Oceania, Burma (Myanmar), Australia, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
snakebyte Jan 30th 2009 2:10PM
Im not so sure sharky is a word
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Jolis Jan 30th 2009 2:44PM
I'm not saying this article is true or false, but if interested, read the Life of Pi. It's story is the same kind; a boat crashes and a boy winds up on a lifeboat with a tiger and a few other people. Only the tiger and the boy survive.
Jeff Jan 30th 2009 3:46PM
Cool book. It's in my library
Hooper Jan 30th 2009 3:04PM
"Authorities now believe the men used the story to escape their native home of Myanmar and seek asylum."
I don't get it. If their story is true, they'll be sent back to Myanmar anyway, right?
MacDaddy Jan 30th 2009 3:17PM
At least we didnt get them we have collected enough of the worlds garbage
John Jan 30th 2009 4:15PM
A few years ago 2 guys tried to pull this stunt off the coast of Ft Lauderdale. I forget the reason, but they got busted right away because they were clean shaven and weren't sunburned.
Buddy X Feb 23rd 2009 6:12PM
Poor Guys! Do you blame them for wanting to get out of Myanmar? They should be allowed to live in Australia just for the effort and creativity!
thepugpieper Jan 30th 2009 4:21PM
Let me just go out and get that refrig and paddle my way back to Melbourne.
Why didn't I think of that sooner???
Humm... I wonder if I mention this to the airlines they will be willing to give me a better deal...or even fly free!
maximum JOE Jan 30th 2009 5:28PM
Be careful Australia, they will start coming in hordes and try to take over like the mexicants are doing here!
Joe Jan 30th 2009 6:16PM
The fridge was probably well stocked. MMMMMM frozen burritos and beer!
Yvonne Jan 30th 2009 9:39PM
Why not look if the leftovers in the fridge are moldy? Surely there'd be a little mold in there or did they eat that too, along with the droppings ??
Romeo Feb 1st 2009 9:09PM
I realize there is right ways. But none of us should judge we have know idea what they are comming from. They should have come in the right way.. They are hidding something