Alone: The Search for Brett Archibald

by Brett Archibald

In April 2013 a breaking news story surfaced on social media and quickly gathered momentum: a South African man had fallen overboard in a storm in remote Indonesian waters without anyone else on board realising. Now a frantic search was under way.

The incident caught the world’s attention because readers instantly recognised the terror of the moment – imagine being left alone drifting at sea and watching your friends sail into the distance…

With just a little more bad luck, Brett Archibald could have died immediately. According to the experts, he should have died within eight to ten hours. But he chose not to die. Instead Brett endured – the ocean, the elements, the creatures of the deep, and his own inner demons.

Alone is the incredible tale of what it takes to defy needle-in-a-haystack odds and survive what should have been certain death: outdoor savvy, astonishing mental toughness, a refusal to give up hope, a canny rescuer with an unbelievable background – and a comprehension of the human spirit that defies rational explanation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Survival, Memoir, Adventure, Autobiography, Travel, Biography

395 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2016

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 1 out of 5]

First dnf of 2018. Having been an ocean sailor and hoping to be so again soon I love books about sailing and the sea. The bf and I are back on again and hopefully we will spend a year sailing down to Panama on his yacht and then decide whether to go through the Canal and across the Pacific. I say YES, he's more cautious.The beginning of the book where the author falls overboard starts on a high which is not maintained. Instead the author chooses to write about the surfing trip they were all on, all men in their fifties most of whom had known each other since childhood, and detail the individuals involved. It was too early to write out mini-bios, I didn't at that stage know any of the characters and therefore I didn't care. But what got me was perhaps the stupidest sentence I have read in a very long time:

"JM, although a year below the others in school, was equal to them in the water."

So over three decades earlier he had been one year behind the others but had now caught up! I'm sure the author didn't mean that, but the idea of it made me laugh. I thought the writing up to this point has been pretty bad, and although I read on for a while, I just couldn't get into it. What finally got me to bow out was the hackneyed style:

"I think of my mother, Shirly. She's been through so much and now this. How will she react? How will she deal with this loss? The loss of a child...

And my sister Sandra and brother Gregory. Will they be okay? I've always felt a responsibility towards them. Even in adulthood."

I looked at other reviews looking for a clue as to why I was so out of step with the other reviewers but didn't find it among the many freebie reviewers and the readers who have averages of over 4 even if they have read several thousand books (good at picking them, easily pleased? Some authors themselves of course). Only one said the book was badly written. I don't want to put anyone off reading it, but if you do and you love it, tell me where I missed out and what was so good please.

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stunning story of man against the sea when Brett Archibald suddenly blacks out and goes overboard in a storm while on a trip with his buddies to do some surfing on the first night of a 10 day charter in Sumatra, Indonesia. The worst part is that no one notices it and it's not discovered for about 8 hours and by then the boat has traveled a long distance. When Brett comes to in the ocean, choking on salt water, he's in for the battle of his life. A test of will, of endurance, faith, and hope. The book tells about that battle and all of the sometimes odd, yet amazing circumstances that happen along the way. It's quite a story, I found it at times disheartening, moving, terrifying and thrilling. An ARC was provided by NetGalley for an unbiased review. Thanks for reading.

[Onceinabluemoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my kind of thriller, forget murder mysteries, the power of the sea always takes my breath away and makes my heart pound! I felt like I was in the water with him the entire time, the shock, fear, heartbreak was palpable, to be honest, i wanted to skip 200 pages and get to the rescue, I just couldn't stand the suspense!

I listened and read the kindle simultaneously, I found technical errors in both. The audio skipped the preface, the part where he falls overboard which is rather crucial to the story... the kindles table of contents had zero chapters listed for the 300 plus pages, making it difficult to synch the combo, found it unusual that both deliveries were flawed...

I cried at the end, tears shot out like an arching fountain. the kindle said for additional photos go to this link, umm there were ZERO pics! I went to the link and saw the actual video of his rescue, I have to say his words didn't match the reality, he wrote like death was imminent, the video showed a strong confident man, all the more reason he survived, an incredible story that had me itching for him to be found in the first ten minutes!

[Sara Wortman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a book giveaway. Honestly, I was intrigued by the chapters where Brett is at sea and describing what happened at each hour. There are so many people that were mentioned in this book, that it was hard to keep track of who people were at times. The chapters about his friends and different boats aiding the search were quite boring. His survival is incredible and his resilience in such circumstances is very commendable. A good read for someone who enjoys true survival stories.

[Rayan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great story, however it is very poorly written

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gripping read! Fans of Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken will devour this memoir. Imagine puking your guts out from food poisoning in the middle of the night on a boat during a storm in remote Indonesian waters, losing consciousness and waking up plunged into the sea as your boat sails obliviously away. This was Brett Archibald's fate. He was swept over with nothing but what he was wearing -- shorts and a t-shirt. He was already dehydrated from the food poisoning. How he survived 28 hours was a combo of luck, miracle and dogged determination. The story shifts from Brett's perspective, to his family's back home as they wait on edge about his fate, his friends on his boat as they try to rescue him, and the people on the boat that finally do rescue him. The chances of someone surviving after 10 hours in the water is 1%, yet Brett survived for 28. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the e-review copy.

[Jon Koebrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Incredible story of survival that just was not as compelling as I hoped. I considered quitting but ultimately wanted to see how he was found and was buoyed by the notion that if this guy can keep treading water for twenty-Eight and a half hours I should at least hang in there and read the whole book. 2 stars.

[Samantha Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most impossible stories I’ve ever read. HOW. It’s absolutely insane what some people can do. If I could be even a fraction of a Brett Archibald I’d be honored.

[A.B. Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alone but not alone

This captivating tale about a man's single minded determination to survive is matched by the dogged involvement of so many other people. During the ordeal, strangers, family and friends did their bit to find him and in doing so their lives as well as his were changed.
A harrowing event like this inevitably leaves its mark on all, but hopefully lessons have been learned about life and humanity. We all respond differently to crisis. There is no wrong or right way. This book shows what it takes to survive.
I enjoyed the way the ghost writer (CB whoever she is) expressed the tale through the points of view from a number of people. It helped show the full picture of the narrowly avoided tragedy.
As to why things like this happen. Perhaps it is to be reminded of the good in people who insist on doing what is right, even though it may seem crazy at the time.
Lots of lessons to be learned from this riveting tale.

Loved this bit right near the end.
‘Life is difficult.’ That it is, without a doubt. However, it is also most certainly full of choices, and it is in making those choices that we as individuals are able to define our future paths in life and create our own destiny.

[Book Club Mom · Rating 3 out of 5]

In April 2013, Brett Archibald, a 50-year-old South African businessman, was on a surf charter boat off the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia. It was the middle of the night and the seas were storming. Archibald had food poisoning and went on deck to be sick. He lost his footing, fell off the boat and no one saw. He spent nearly 29 hours in the Indian Ocean before a miracle happened. That miracle was Tony “Doris” Eltherington, captain of an Australian charter, and a seafaring legend, who acted on a hunch and found Archibald bobbing in the vast expanse.

How Archibald survived, how his friends and Eltherington’s boat and crew persisted, and how his wife and family never gave up believing he would survive is chronicled in Alone – Lost Overboard in the Indian Ocean. Already weak from dehydration, Archibald fought off raging seas, a shark attack, dive-bombing seagulls, stinging jellyfish and man of wars. He kept his wits about him by counting strokes, naming books in his library and singing songs from his iPod playlists. Despite these efforts, he was often overwhelmed by hopelessness. In addition, he was fooled by hallucinations. When he looked to the sky and saw a wooden cross, he was sure it was another trick of the mind. That cross was the mast of Eltherington’s boat, coming to get him.

The book is written from three points of view: Archibald, his friends and other rescue boats, and his wife and family. While there were some who thought it was unlikely Archibald could survive, those who knew him believed he would. An intense personality and competitor, always pushing himself, Archibald was better off than most, despite the odds against him. From the moment he was rescued he was coherent and surprisingly strong. I was skeptical of this part of the story until I watched several live videos of his rescue. To see what I mean, check out the links at the bottom of the post. The euphoria after his rescue is contagious, Archibald is ridiculously upbeat, making you believe he had all the right stuff to get him through what would have been certain death for most.

Survival stories are hard to resist and this is an incredible one. I enjoyed learning the details of his hour-by-hour story. While lost in the ocean, Archibald reflected on his life mistakes and failed relationships and faced the grim possibility that he would never see his wife and young children again. It’s no surprise that he came out of the ordeal a changed man and the phrase “life is short” doesn’t seem nearly as trite.

My one disappointment is in how the book is presented. The cover and title and Archibald’s first person account made me think he had written the book, but the account is in fact written by an unnamed author. This fact is buried in the “Three Years Later” chapter at the end of the book.

In addition, readers are well-advised to give up trying to remember the hundreds of names provided, which tends to bog down the flow of the story.

All in all, however, an engrossing read that results in a happy, feel-good moment.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate to rate this so low because I realize how terrible this experience was for the author. However, this 384 page book could’ve been 50 pages. It was filled with things that didn’t really need to be in it to make the storyline (flashbacks, filler info, other’s experiences). The portion of him in the ocean was interesting to me. If you feel compelled to read, I recommend skipping to the epilogue.

[Isabella Fray · Rating 1 out of 5]

24 pages in and I’m calling it—I have to DNF this. I LOVE survival stories. Can’t get enough of them. But from the outset I know I won’t be getting through this one. For one, I dislike the changing perspectives and how the author relays what his friends are thinking. Normally this type of embellishment wouldn’t bother me (he could easily have asked them what happened) but he awkwardly describes himself from his friend’s perspectives and I couldn’t stop imagining him at his keyboard deciding what adjectives to use to make him seem amazing at everything but also humble.

Then there was the actual writing. We get lines such as, “My daughter is my princess with whom I have the most incredible bond. She’s an old soul, who’s wonderfully wise way beyond her young years.” (24) Because that’s definitely an interesting and original way to describe a child, especially your own child...

Finally, (and bear in mind I only made it two dozen pages in), the dialogue from the Indonesian crew already makes me worry that they’ll be turned into caricatures as the plot progresses. Of course, the people who do this for a living ferrying tourists around have to lose their heads “and appear overwhelmed, out of their depth. The South Africans realise that they’ll have to gently assume control.” (10) My best friend is Indonesian so I don’t really feel like reading what may turn out to be a low-key (or high-key, who knows at this point) racist depiction of the local inhabitants.

So yeah, I’ll pass on this book, thanks.

[Jayess · Rating 2 out of 5]

This should have been great - a story of unprecedented survival, fortitude, and volunteer cooperation. However, the preoccupation with the "amazing coincidences" surrounding some of the details resulted in too large a cast of characters to keep track of. While I value acknowledging all the people involved in a rescue, for the sake of the narrative it was too much superfluous information. While Brett's survival is remarkable, the monotony of his time in the water is reflected in the chapters written from his perspective. The experience of his wife and friends back home, while emotionally tumultuous, added nothing to his rescue or the clumsy narrative of this memoir. True stories still need to be well structured in order to keep the reader's interest. My impression is that Brett's story is well-suited for his motivational speaker circuit, but needed a stronger hand at the editor's tiller to guide it into safe literary waters.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I took sailing lessons, overboard drills always made me a little nervous, as you couldn't help but imagine the worst-case scenario. This powerful true story was the worst case scenario every boater fears. It is almost unimaginable for someone to go overboard into a wild sea during a storm at night. And yet, it happened, and the author, Brett Archibald, through sheer grit, faith, and determination, lived to tell his tale, against incredible odds. I listened to this audio book over a period of a couple of weeks, at night in bed in the dark, when I couldn't sleep. Not the best choice for insomnia relief, as the story is so compelling and horrifying. The resolution, when it finally came, made every nerve in my body buzz; it was that electrifying. A story perfect for the television show "I Shouldn't Be Alive", I won't forget Brett Archibald's harrowing and heart-pounding tale for a long time to come. Well done, sir!

[Reece Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what it was about this one, but it just wasn't an interesting read. It was more of an author's catharsis (indeed, Brett wrote the book partly for his children to know the story and to come to terms with what happened), and sometimes reminded me of one of those sentimental, feel-good, proof of God type books you see being sold at the grocery store.
For me, the most interesting part is the epilogue because there is actual research and references regarding the experience of being stranded in the middle of the ocean. I would have liked more of that.
Overall, this just didn't seem book-worthy. Miraculous what happened, but you'd be better off reading a detailed magazine article, rather than a 300 page book on the experience.

[Jett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going straight into the dislike. The ending. I wish he had told more of the rescuing, recuperating, heading home and seeing his wife and family and maybe throw in a six month epilogue. I would’ve liked to have known how his health was doing, was he having PTSD? I mean, what’s going on with you mentally?

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this were not a true story it would be hard to believe. What a grueling experience, I was practically choking on the salt water with him.

It got a little repetitious by 3/4 of the way through and I was never be able to keep all those people straight (didn’t effect the story). It was a great tale of faith and survival.

[C]

I won't rate with stars a tragic true story. What Brett endured is beyond comprehension. 29 hours drifting in the ocean. Not an enjoyable read but one I was interested in reading just to see what this person went through and how strong he was to have endured. Amazing.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing story. I read the book in three days and felt I couldn't put it down. A story about determination, faith and a miracle! Everyone should read this book.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I consider Stephen Callaghan’s Adrift the gold standard for survivalist fare. Maybe I read it at a particularly impressionable age as I think I was in college-but I think about his MacGyver-ing contraptions for capturing condensation and eating fish eyeballs so not to die of thirst more often than you may think is normal. So, as much as I don’t want to ‘rate’ someone’s survival tale-I mean, thank God he survived- maybe because Archibald was adrift for only 28 hours (as opposed to Callaghan’s 76 days,) and was noticed missing within hours by his boat mates, to me, Alone as a book, just isn’t as compelling as others in the genre. They built up the story by including the perspectives of those boat mates and his family awaiting news of his rescue-plus a lot of baack-backstory. But the best parts were from Archibald’s own thoughts and perspectives while adrift, and when he was fighting off the jellyfish.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible story! I love stories of survival and seeing the ‘will to survive’ and what our bodies are capable of when we push them past our limits. 28.5 hours floating unaided in the ocean is unfathomable. I also love how it just takes ONE person to do what’s right and to not follow the crowd for something extraordinary, and in this case life saving to happen! If true stories of survival are your jam then I would definitely recommend!

[Mariaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow loved this book. It is so much more than just a story of a South African being rescued in the wide oceans of Indonesia. It is a story that if life is meant to happen it will, and the lesson he learnt was to enjoy your life every day and the 3 F's - Faith, Family and Friends. But as he says, you do not have to fall overboard to learn these lessons. Great book, loved it!!

[Laura A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating survival story 😳 Although I found myself wanting to skim some parts of the search timeline (probably because so many different names and I don’t do well with that), I was completely captured by his descriptions of being lost in the ocean. The physical and mental obstacles he went through were wild.

[Rhonda Lomazow · Rating 5 out of 5]

For 28 hours Brett Archibald had to survive counting on himself his strength his mind.Imagine the nightmare of falling off a ship into dark waters this is so scary the things nightmares are made of.A well written tense page turner as we watch Brett’s fight to survive& the search for him,

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting to get a chance to see what a dying person thinks about just before death. But the author comes across as very egotistical. He can't help describing and repeating what a physical feat he accomplished and how the women cried and cried during that time.

[Niamh O'Dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and unlikely survival story. An emotional roller coaster from cover to cover.

[Lauren Hunnicutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one, incredible, well written, survival story. I enjoyed every minute of it and will recommend this book to others.

[Myriam Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.7 🌟

[Shalane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love a good survival story and this one is crazy. I first heard Brett Archibald interviewed on a podcast and it stuck with me for months, so I decided to read his book. Highly recommend either this or his episode on Real Survival Stories if you want a condensed version.

[John Wiltshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good read. Despite knowing the outcome (the guy is writing the book, so I took a leap of faith that he'd survived), it's still a very tense, harrowing story. Archibald reconstructs his 29 hours in the ocean from three povs: his, those searching for him, and his friends and family at home in Cape Town. It's blended quite well, with back stories on the most important characters, especially 'Doris' the Australian captain who eventually found him.
However I had to laugh today when finishing with book-Archibald pulled from the sea with the skin of his nose hanging off (seagull attack), his lips so swollen he couldn't open his mouth, chunks of his tongue falling off, shark bitten on his shoulder, I then googled the story and found the clip on YouTube when actual Archibald is pulled from the sea for real. Huh. I'm not denying the experience of all those hours in the water was terrible, but he had a tiny, tiny cut on his nose, his lips looked totally normal, he was chatting 19 to the dozen (impossible to do with missing tongue chunks) and he looked incredible fit and well. Bit hard to reconcile the two accounts. Hey ho.
But still, good story if you like boys-own tales of the sea.