Teenager Survives 49 Days In Floating Fishing Hut In The Pacific Ocean

A teenager miraculously survived 49 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean after his fishing hut's mooring cable was snapped by heavy winds in July. Aldi Novel Adilang from Sulawesi, an Indonesian island, was whisked away by strong winds while he was working 78 miles out at sea as a lampkeeper on the floating fishing trap.

The 19-year-old reportedly had only had a few days' worth of supplies, and survived by catching fish and burning wood from his hut to cook them.

Indonesian consul general in Osaka, Japan, Mirza Nurhidaya, said the teenager was able to stretch out his weekly supplies for the full seven weeks.

"After he ran out of the cooking gas, he burned the wooden fences to make a fire for cooking," he told the Jakarta Post. "He drank by sipping water from his clothes that had been wetted by sea water."

According to reports, the teenager made many attempts to flag down passing ships to be rescued using a tattered cloth. Ten ships sailed passed the teenager before Panama-flagged vessel Arpeggio finally rescued him in the waters of Guam on Aug. 31.

"Aldi's story is indeed dramatic, and we are thankful to all - the ship's captain and the Japanese authorities — that have been very helpful in ensuring Aldi's return," Mirza said.

The teenager opened up about his ordeal in an interview with local news portal TribunManado, saying he thought he “was going to die out there.” He also said he was suicidal and considered jumping into the ocean. However, he remembered his parents’ advice to pray in times of distress and consulted his Bible, which was on board.

After the teenager was rescued, the captain contacted the Guam coast guard and as the ship was headed to Japan, it was decided the teenager would be handed over to consulate officials on arrival in Tokuyama on Sept. 6.