Luckiest People Who Survived The Impossible

On Christmas Eve in 1971, Juliane Koepcke, a 17-year-old girl, and her mother, Maria Koepcke, eagerly boarded LANSA Flight 508. Their destination was Panguana, a rainforest research center where Juliane's father resided, and they were hoping to spend Christmas together as a family. The flight was meant to be relatively short, lasting a little over an hour. Unfortunately, luck was not on their side that day. During the middle of the flight, without any warning, the airplane suddenly broke apart. In the chaos, Juliane was thrown out of the plane, finding herself in a free fall from an astonishing height of approximately 10,000 feet. The questions that arose were numerous: How would she manage to survive such a monumental fall? What caused the airplane to disintegrate in mid-air? If you're curious to uncover the answers and learn about other astonishing tales of survival against all odds, stay tuned as we delve into this incredible story.

The day prior to their ill-fated flight, Juliane and her mother had attended Juliane's high school graduation ceremony in Lima, Peru. Originally planning to fly back home on December 20th, they decided to extend their stay by a few days in order to participate in the graduation event. Regrettably, this seemingly innocuous decision had fatal consequences. Had they stuck to their original plan and flown on the 20th, they would have avoided the perilous choice of flying with LANSA, an airline notorious for its dubious reputation. Over the preceding five years, two of their planes had crashed due to pilot errors, significantly eroding public trust in the airline. Juliane's father had specifically warned his wife against flying with LANSA. However, on Christmas Eve, with all other flights fully booked, they had no alternative if they wished to reach their destination in time for Christmas. Flight 508 was scheduled to stop at Pucallpa, where Juliane and her mother intended to disembark and continue the rest of their journey by car.

The ultimate destination of the flight was Iquitos, and it took off without any apparent issues, carrying 86 passengers and six crew members. The plane steadily ascended to an altitude of 21,000 feet, slightly less than four miles above sea level, when suddenly, the cabin started to shake violently. An intense thunderstorm had formed ahead, subjecting the aircraft to severe turbulence. Despite the perilous conditions, the flight crew chose to press on, feeling the pressure to adhere to the Christmas holiday schedule. Thus, despite the turbulent weather, the flight continued its course. Inside the cabin, the shaking became so severe that luggage fell from the overhead compartments, and flight attendants struggled to remain standing.

The aircraft was ill-equipped to handle extreme weather conditions. Subsequent investigations revealed that it had been assembled using spare parts from other planes, essentially creating a makeshift aircraft. This inherent weakness in the plane's construction proved fatal when it was struck by lightning, tearing apart the secondhand fuselage. The damage sent the plane hurtling into a deadly nosedive, disintegrating further as it plummeted through the sky. Strapped into her seat, Juliane looked out of her window and witnessed the bright flash of lightning near the plane's engine. She experienced the horrifying jolt as the aircraft abruptly entered a nosedive. The plane descended for what felt like an eternity, but as the fuselage disintegrated, Juliane was abruptly ripped out of the plane, still secured in her seat, and began free-falling from an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet, which is a little less than two miles. Aware of the near-impossibility of survival, considering that even a fall from just six feet can be fatal for a human, Juliane braced herself for the worst.

In the absence of a parachute, Juliane faced the terrifying prospect of free-falling at terminal velocity, which is the maximum speed achieved by a falling object when the upward air resistance matches the force of gravity pulling it downwards. For a human falling in a belly-to-earth position, terminal velocity is approximately 120 miles per hour. Colliding with the ground at such high speed would undoubtedly result in a painful and fatal outcome. Juliane believed her fate was sealed as this realization crossed her mind, and she lost consciousness as she descended toward the rainforest canopy. However, when she regained consciousness, she found herself on the ground beneath the canopy, still secured in her seat. Against all odds, she had survived. Although she had suffered a broken collarbone, a deep arm gash, cuts on her legs, and a concussion, she miraculously remained intact. But how did she manage to survive?

Juliane's survival can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, she was seated in the middle seat of a row of three, which was torn out as a unit. The empty seats on either side of her acted as an improvised parachute, increasing air resistance and slowing her fall. Additionally, Juliane fell through the thunderstorm that caused the plane's destruction. The updraft effect within the storm, where warm rising air is drawn up into the storm clouds, decelerated her descent. Most significantly, Juliane's fall was broken by the rainforest canopy. As the chairs descended, they became entangled with the trees, snapping off layers of branches and effectively reducing Juliane's velocity before reaching the ground. This sequence of events was astonishing. However, Juliane's ordeal was far from over. Injured, disoriented, and without her glasses, which she lost during the fall, she found herself alone in an unfamiliar environment. Given her nearsightedness, searching for other survivors in her surroundings would prove exceptionally challenging. Despite these daunting circumstances, Juliane wasn't entirely alone.

The Peruvian rainforest harbors a variety of creatures, including formidable predators such as jaguars, stealthy carnivores capable of sprinting up to 50 miles per hour and leaping 10 feet high. Additionally, there are poison dart frogs, whose camouflage makes them difficult to spot. Some of these frogs possess potent toxins, with a mere touch capable of delivering a lethal dose to ten individuals. How could Juliane possibly survive without inadvertently encountering a poisonous frog or becoming a jaguar's prey? However, Juliane possessed a crucial advantage that set her apart from the average person. Growing up in the Panguana research station, she was well-acquainted with the rainforest and had acquired survival skills during her time there.

Despite the challenges Juliane faced after the crash, such as losing one of her shoes and the risk of encountering dangerous creatures in the rainforest, she resourcefully used her remaining shoe to test the ground and avoid potential snake encounters. She eventually reached a small creek and opted to walk in the water to avoid any hidden perils on the forest floor. Following a well-known rule of self-rescue in the wilderness, Juliane continued to follow the water downhill, as it often leads to human settlements. For three days, she trekked through the stream until she stumbled upon debris from the shattered plane on the fourth day. Searching through the wreckage, she discovered a bag of sweets, which became her first meal in days. Unfortunately, she found no other survivors among the wreckage, so she continued her journey, following the stream.

The jungle days were hot and humid, while the nights brought chilling temperatures. Juliane, dressed only in a short sleeveless mini-dress, struggled to stay warm but persevered night after night. By the tenth day, she had depleted the sweets and weakened from starvation. Moreover, her arm wound had become infected, attracting maggots. However, she noticed that the stream joined a larger river, and her hope was rekindled when she spotted an empty boat. Initially questioning her senses, as she hadn't encountered another human so deep in the wilderness, Juliane confirmed the boat's existence and realized that other people must be nearby.

Observing her surroundings, she discovered a small path leading further into the jungle. Following the path, she reached a modest hut with a roof made of palm leaves. Inside the hut, she found a liter of gasoline. Although it may not sound immediately useful, Juliane recalled her father once using kerosene to treat an infected wound and remove maggots. Drawing on this knowledge, she bravely poured the gasoline on her own arm, enduring intense agony in the process.

After enduring a horrifying ordeal in the rainforest, Juliane Koepcke managed to remove 30 maggots from her arm by pouring gasoline on the wound, despite the risks associated with such a method. While this unconventional first aid technique likely helped prevent infection in her situation, it's important to note that seeking medical assistance from a hospital is always the recommended course of action when dealing with maggots in a wound.

Juliane spent the night in the hut and was fortunate to hear the voices of returning fishermen the next day. They were initially surprised to find her but, upon learning her story, they provided her with proper first aid and transported her to a more populated area. Finally, after being lost in the jungle for 11 days, Juliane was airlifted to the hospital and reunited with her father. However, tragically, among the survivors later discovered was not her mother, Maria. Maria had sustained severe injuries and passed away before she could be rescued. Her body was found on January 12, 1972, and laid to rest.

Many of the other survivors also suffered significant injuries, and even those who weren't injured fell victim to the hidden dangers of the rainforest. Juliane, despite her incredible survival, humbly acknowledges the challenges and risks involved in such a situation.

Following her recovery, Juliane returned to Germany, her parents' native country. She went on to earn a PhD from the University of Munich and continued her work in Peru, conducting research in mammalogy with a specialization in bats. In 2000, she assumed the role of director at the Panguana research center following her father's passing. Juliane's rainforest experience did not diminish her passion for the jungle; if anything, it strengthened it.

While Juliane's story is remarkable, there are numerous other incredible survival stories from around the world. But before delving into those, it's worth mentioning the importance of liking and subscribing to the content, if you enjoyed it. Now, let's explore more extraordinary tales of individuals who defied the odds.

After enduring a horrifying ordeal in the rainforest, Juliane Koepcke managed to remove 30 maggots from her arm by pouring gasoline on the wound, despite the risks associated with such a method. While this unconventional first aid technique likely helped prevent infection in her situation, it's important to note that seeking medical assistance from a hospital is always the recommended course of action when dealing with maggots in a wound.

Juliane spent the night in the hut and was fortunate to hear the voices of returning fishermen the next day. They were initially surprised to find her but, upon learning her story, they provided her with proper first aid and transported her to a more populated area. Finally, after being lost in the jungle for 11 days, Juliane was airlifted to the hospital and reunited with her father. However, tragically, among the survivors later discovered was not her mother, Maria. Maria had sustained severe injuries and passed away before she could be rescued. Her body was found on January 12, 1972, and laid to rest.

Many of the other survivors also suffered significant injuries, and even those who weren't injured fell victim to the hidden dangers of the rainforest. Juliane, despite her incredible survival, humbly acknowledges the challenges and risks involved in such a situation.

Following her recovery, Juliane returned to Germany, her parents' native country. She went on to earn a PhD from the University of Munich and continued her work in Peru, conducting research in mammalogy with a specialization in bats. In 2000, she assumed the role of director at the Panguana research center following her father's passing. Juliane's rainforest experience did not diminish her passion for the jungle; if anything, it strengthened it.

While Juliane's story is remarkable, there are numerous other incredible survival stories from around the world. But before delving into those, it's worth mentioning the importance of liking and subscribing to the content, if you enjoyed it. Now, let's explore more extraordinary tales of individuals who defied the odds.

Anatoli Bugorski's survival story showcases the incredible resilience of the human body. Despite enduring a life-threatening accident in a particle accelerator, which resulted in his face being exposed to a high-energy proton beam, Anatoli continued his work at the Institute for High Energy Physics. The freezing of his facial muscles due to the beam's impact prevented visible signs of aging, such as wrinkles and lines.

However, Anatoli was forbidden from discussing the accident publicly for over a decade due to the strict secrecy surrounding nuclear testing during the Soviet era. He underwent regular examinations at a Moscow radiation clinic and interacted with other victims of nuclear accidents, all bound by the same obligation of secrecy. It was only after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 that Anatoli was able to share his incredible survival story.

Anatoli Bugorski's experience has made him renowned as someone who pushed the boundaries of human endurance and redefined our understanding of survival. Despite the dangers he faced, Anatoli continued his career and even held a position as the coordinator of physics experiments, ensuring that similar accidents would be avoided in the future.

Moving on to another remarkable survival story, we meet Joan Leslie Murray, who had a harrowing experience while skydiving in 1999. Her main parachute failed to deploy from a height of 14,500 feet, and it wasn't until she was just 700 feet from the ground that she managed to open her emergency chute. Unfortunately, upon opening, Joan swung out of control and crashed into the ground at a devastating speed of 80 miles per hour.

The impact resulted in severe injuries, including multiple fractures on her right side. To make matters worse, she landed on a fire ant mound and was stung over 200 times. While the fire ant stings caused intense pain and blistering, they actually played a role in saving her life. The venom from the ant stings stimulated her nervous system and kept her heart beating until help arrived.

Joan spent two weeks in a coma following the accident but underwent numerous surgeries and blood transfusions during her recovery. Remarkably, she made a full recovery and, astonishingly, resumed skydiving just two years later.

These stories of Anatoli Bugorski and Joan Leslie Murray highlight the incredible strength and resilience of the human body and spirit in the face of unimaginable challenges.

Dougal Robertson's midlife crisis took a unique turn when he decided to embark on a sailing trip around the world with his wife and four children. The family spent 17 months at sea, sailing from port to port and exploring different parts of the world. However, their journey took a dangerous turn when they encountered a group of killer whales off the coast of the Galapagos Islands on June 15, 1972.

In an unusual attack, the killer whales attacked and damaged their schooner, forcing the family to abandon ship and take refuge in a lifeboat and a small dinghy. They gathered whatever food they could before leaving the sinking ship. However, their food supplies quickly ran out after just six days, and they were left to fend for themselves in a fight for survival.

The family resorted to collecting rainwater to drink, but when that ran out, they had to make more extreme choices to stay hydrated. They turned to drinking turtle blood, understanding the risks involved but seeing it as a better alternative to drinking seawater, which can be fatal due to its high salt content. While drinking blood can lead to complications like hemochromatosis, they were desperate to sustain themselves.

Turtles became their main source of food, as they hunted them for meat and utilized the sun to melt the fat and create oil, which they used to rub on their skin to keep warm. For an astonishing 38 days, the Robertson family was adrift at sea, fighting against the odds to survive. Eventually, their ordeal came to an end when they were discovered by a Japanese fishing trawler on July 23. The family was rescued and brought back to land.

Although the experience was undoubtedly unforgettable, it's safe to assume that Dougal Robertson's future family trip suggestions may have been met with a bit more caution and reluctance.

Moving on to another remarkable story, we have Julie McSorley and Liz Cottriel, who had a thrilling encounter with humpback whales while kayaking in San Luis Obispo, California, in November 2020. The waters were filled with tourists and marine creatures as humpback whales were feeding on fish in the bay.

While it is recommended to keep a distance of at least 300 feet from whales for safe whale watching, Julie and Liz misjudged the distance. What happened next was a surprising turn of events.

The story of Julie McSorley and Liz Cottriel being trapped inside a humpback whale's mouth while kayaking is certainly a remarkable tale of survival. Despite the initial shock and fear, they were fortunate that humpback whales have small throats and are unable to swallow large prey. The whale quickly realized its mistake and spat them back out, leaving them unharmed and safely back in the water. It's a reminder of the incredible size and capabilities of these marine creatures and the importance of respecting their space.

As for the most extraordinary tale of survival, it's subjective and can vary from person to person. Both the Robertson family's 38-day ordeal at sea and Julie and Liz's encounter with the humpback whale showcase the resilience and courage of individuals facing extreme circumstances. Each story highlights the incredible strength of the human spirit and the will to survive against all odds.