A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

Survival Stories

In times of struggle and strife, humanity always finds a way. When the the clock runs low and the chips are down, these unbelieavable stories of survival will remind you of the strength of the human spirit.

Add Filter

I Survived! Three Tales of Daring Escapes and Survivals

These lucky survivors each escaped potentially deadly situations with their lives

How a 9/11 Survivor and His Son Bravely Rescued a Pilot from Icy Waters

When a small plane crashes into a frozen creek, kayakers must navigate the ice to save the pilot



Meet the Man Who Survived 16+ Hours at Sea After His Boat Capsized

This is his amazing story of survival and strength


Meet the Man Who Fought a 350-Pound Black Bear to Save His Dog

He would do anything to save his pup—even square up with one of nature's biggest beasts

Welcoming Ukrainian Refugees: 13 Stories That Will Renew Your Faith in Humanity

Instead of waiting to figure out the "right" way to help, these people jumped into action to help Ukrainian refugees...


These Four People Were Faced with Death and Lived to Tell Their Stories

When faced with certain death, you need bravery, determination, and plenty of luck.

I Was Stalked with an Apple AirTag—Here’s What I Wish I’d Known

Tech aimed at making our lives easier is now the perfect stalking tool—and it's terrifying


This Expert Skier Survived Two Avalanches After Hitting the Slopes

Caught in a massive avalanche and buried alive under a blanket of snow, Ken Scott knew death was just a...


13 Powerful Things Surviving a Terrorist Attack Taught Me About Life

Here's how I learned to see the good in a world that can seem, at times, to be horrifically evil.


I Survived 9/11—These Are the 13 Questions Young People Ask Me the Most

Twelve-years-old at the time of the attack, the author survived, and so did her family—but she soon realized 9/11 was...


How an 18-Year-Old Helped Save a Hiker Who Fell 75 Feet Off a Mountain Cliff

An 18-year-old went on a hike with his mom—and returned home a hero. Here's how his quick actions saved...


When a Medevac Plane Couldn’t Land Because the Runway Lights Were Out an Entire Village Used T...

“Any time a plane flies over that late, you know something is wrong.”


This Woman Was Trapped in Her Car on an Embankment for Days Before Concerned Neighbors Found Her

Trapped in her car down an embankment, Corine began to lose hope...


How I Escaped from Cuba in 1969 in the Wheel Well of a Jet

This RD classic from 50 years ago tells the thrilling story of a teen who made
 a daring escape...

Here’s How I Survived a Shark Attack

Mike Coots was surfing with his buddies near his home in Kauai when he was attacked by a shark. He...


When 20 Miners Became Stranded in an Elevator Shaft, One Man Transported Them All to Safety

Below the trapped miners was an empty elevator shaft, 2,000 feet deep....


Tout icon

5 Split-Second Decisions People Made That Saved Their Own Lives

Kidnapped at gunpoint? Cornered by a mountain lion? Stranded in a snowstorm? These everyday people saved their own lives with...


In a Freak Accident, This Woman Was Shot in the Neck with an Arrow and It Ended Up Saving Her Life

After a backyard accident 
almost kills her, a Texas woman is taken 
on a miraculous medical journey.


This Man Beheaded a Snake—And It Still Bit Him

When Jeremy Sutcliffe decapitated the poisonous rattler threatening his wife, he assumed that would be the end of it. He...


Tout icon

12 Titanic Survivors: What Happened to Them Next

That fateful night was the beginning of the rest of their lives—for better or for worse.


Tout icon

His Parachute Got Stuck on the Plane’s Wheel and He Was Suspended in Midair with Little Chance...

Almost 80 years after it unfolded in the sky over San Diego, a nearly impossible rescue mission remains one of...


5 People Whose Brain Injuries Gave Them New Abilities

The brain is a powerful organ! Although these people experienced trauma, their brains compensated with some special skills.


This Teacher Saved a Cafeteria of Students from an Active Shooter

Her students now compare her to Chuck Norris.

Magazine Cover

Subscribe & SAVE

Save Up To 84%!

What It Feels Like to Be Caught Inside a California Wildfire

Half inferno, half cyclone, the Carr Fire 
 burned as hot as 2,700 degrees
 and packed winds that turned 
...


What It Feels Like to Have a Wildfire Burn Over You, Straight from a Firefighter

The most dangerous time for a wildfire is late afternoon, when the sun is hot, relative humidity is low, and...


I Used to Be Homeless—And Here’s What Everyone Gets Wrong About It

You've been misled by television and movies: Homeless people aren't dangerous. Here's the reality from a man who spent 20...


The Day Robert Downey Jr. Saved My Grandma

At the height of an emergency, the actor turned into a real-life superhero.


This Man Was Left to Die on Everest, But These Hikers Sacrificed Reaching the Top To Save His Life

Near Everest's peak, the climbers faced a choice: head for the summit, like others had done, or stop to save...


My “Abdominal Pain” Turned out to Be Colon Cancer

Amy Driben-Salcedo dismissed the burning in her abdomen as an ulcer—until a colonoscopy revealed she had colon cancer.