The storm-battered sailboat was falling apart, but the wind and waves had carried the six teenagers to a small island. Mano swam to shore, then called to the others to follow. They had made it to land. But their adventure was just beginning.
Stories of being trapped on a deserted island make for fun fiction. In 1965, though, these six teens from Tonga experienced a real-life struggle for survival. It would take all their bravery and friendship to get through it.
Stuck on an Island
Their voyage started out from Tonga's main island of Tongatapu. "I wanted to see the wide world," Mano said later on the Extremes podcast. He was joined by schoolmates Stephen, Luke, Sione, David, and Kolo. Tired of school, they stole a boat with a plan to sail to Fiji.
None of the six were experienced sailors. They did not even bring a map. A storm hit on the first night, and the sail and rudder were wrecked. The teens drifted for eight days. Hope was fading when 'Ata appeared. It is a small and uninhabited island.
'Ata is a rugged place with steep cliffs. It has little drinking water. The six rebuilt their strength by eating the bananas and coconuts that grew there. They ate seabird eggs, as well. They figured out ways to catch rainwater.
After some exploring, they discovered an empty settlement. Nearby were papaya trees and taro root along with wild chickens. For shelter, they built huts out of coconut leaves. Stephen succeeded in starting a fire after three months of trying.
The group knew that there was more to survival than meeting these basic needs. Working in teams of two, they kept busy doing tasks that lifted their spirits. Jobs included gardening, cooking, and keeping the fire lit. For exercise and fun, they made a badminton court and a set of weights. Kolo even fashioned a guitar from a coconut shell, wood, and wire. If there was a disagreement, whoever was upset took some time to calm down.
Back from the Dead
Weeks, months, then a year passed. Then one day a fishing boat appeared. The crew was surprised to see someone swimming toward their boat. He was coming from an island that was supposed to be deserted!
"I'm Stephen," the swimmer called out. "We've been here 15 months."
The captain radioed Tonga with the story to see if it could be true. "Stand by," the radio operator answered. Minutes passed, then—"You found them! These boys have been given up for dead.… If it's them, this is a miracle!"
The castaways, by being smart and trusting each other, had made it.
According to the article, why did the teens have trouble controlling their boat?
A. They ran out of food and didn't have enough strength.
B. The sail and the rudder were destroyed in a storm.
C. They didn't remember to bring a map before they left.
D. It was too hard to make it float so close to the shore.
9 answers
A. The teens succeeded in making fire with sticks.
B. The teens drifted on the sea for eight days.
C. The teens rebuilt their strength eating island food.
D. The teens packed some food and stole a boat.
A. rescuers saved the teens just before they ran out of things to eat
B. each teen kept to himself most of the time on the island
C. the teens found that meeting their basic needs took all of their time
D. the teens learned to solve problems during their time on the island
A. Working in teams of two, they kept busy doing tasks that lifted their spirits.
B. The six rebuilt their strength by eating the bananas and coconuts that grew there.
C. After some exploring, they discovered an empty settlement.
D. A storm hit on the first night, and the sail and rudder were wrecked.
A. on a globe
B. in a dictionary
C. in an encyclopedia
D. on a calendar