Have you ever been lost for any specific amount of time? Like lost in the wilderness, or lost at sea, perhaps?
If so, you probably know that sinking feeling of not knowing where to go or exactly what to do.
Recently, two men from the Solomon Islands named Livae Nanjikana and Junior Qoloni found themselves in that exact same situation — and the good news is that they made out it just fine when it was all said and done.
“We have done the trip before and it should have been Okay”
The two men were found by 400 kilometers from where their journey first began, according to a report from The Guardian.
They had been lost at sea for 29 days after their GPS tracker stopped working, but according to one of the sailors, it shouldn’t have happened this way.
“We have done the trip before and it should have been OK,” Nanjikana said.
The duo had planned to travel 200 kilometers south to the town of Noro on New Georgia Island, using the west coast of Vella Lavella Island and Gizo Island to their left as a guide.
They set out from an island called Mono in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands in a small, single 60 horsepower boat according to the article.
Despite their experience, the Solomon Sea separating their two destination points is considered to be rough and unpredictable.
They encountered heavy rain and strong winds a few hours into their trip, and it “became scary” quickly according to Nanjikana.
“We couldn’t see where we were going and so we just decided to stop the engine and wait, to save fuel.”
Duo Survives on Oranges, Coconuts Gathered Prior to Their Trip
The pair survived on oranges and coconuts for their 29-day odyssey, floating northwest for 400 kilometers and not realizing they had entered another country’s territory.
They also collected rainwater using a piece of canvas.
When they arrived to the town of Pomio on October 2, they had to be carried off the boat to a nearby house because they were so weak.
“I had no idea what was going on while I was out there. I didn’t hear about Covid or anything else,” Nanjikana said.
Despite their difficulties, the men have handled their terrifying ordeal with gratitude and good humor.
“I look forward to going back home but I guess it was a nice break from everything,” Nanjikana said.
