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.
Everyday Heroes: Fearless on the Front Lawn
A woman defends her turf—and saves a boy’s life.
Aboard the Costa Concordia: One Family’s Nightmare
Our family vacation aboard the Costa Concordia went terribly wrong. Here’s what it felt like to almost go down with...
Everyday Heroes: The Man Who Ran Toward Fire
A stranger saves an elderly woman and her dog from raging flames.
The Sailor and the Whale: Survival at Sea
A 40-ton gray whale lunges onto the deck, and Max Young seems sunk. What follows is the fight of his...
Survival Stories: Free Fall Above Death Canyon
Lauren McLean was a seasoned climber. No one expected her to end up broken on a ledge.
Man Risks Life to Save Boys Floating Out to Sea
"They were floating out to sea": How an everyday hero rescued two boys in dire circumstances.
Barefoot Teen Braves Fire, Saves Neighbors
“I’d never seen smoke like that,” he says. “My glasses immediately turned black from the ash.”
Angel in an Apron: Baker Saves Couple from Plane Crash
Read how a couple survives a fiery plane crash thanks to a baker and his buddy in this gripping story.
Survival Story: The Little Boy Who Couldn’t Cry Help
Eight-year-old Robert was nonverbal with an autism spectrum disorder, so when he vanished in a Virginia state park and prompted...
The Tot and the Twister: A Real-Life Tornado Drama
When a tornado struck near their hometown of Forney, Texas, the Enochs almost lost it all: Here's the amazing story...
Miracle Rescue from an Icy River Plunge
On a frigid winter day, a group of strangers band together to save three children.
Survival Stories: Hot, Thirsty, and Lost in Death Valley
Three women took a drive to Death Valley for a day of exploring. Three days and 300 miles later, they...
25 Years Later: “Sole Survivor” Film Examines Emotions, Struggle
Tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of one of the worst disasters in U.S. aviation history: On August 16, 1987, Northwest
In the Jaws of a Polar Bear
As two Arctic kayakers were sound asleep, the polar bear that had picked up their scent began lumbering toward the...
Miracle Boy Survivor of the Haiti Earthquake
An estimated 100,000 children were left orphaned by the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, but Kiki, luckily, is not one...
Bear Attack: The Story of Seven Boys and One Grizzly
Seven high school students were near the end of their month-long survival course in the Alaskan wilderness, but the real...
You Only Live Twice
On a cold Minnesota morning, Howard Snitzer collapsed on a sidewalk. Ninety-six minutes later, he still didn't have a heartbeat....
Mayday! One Man’s Story of Surviving a Plane Crash
Could you survive a plane crash for 18 hours treading water without a life vest? Michael Trapp did. Here's how....
Shelli Eldredge’s Miraculous Recovery
Shelli and husband Stephen were in Hawaii with their family when tragedy struck. Here, a story of recovery built on...
The Boy Who Defied Death
Doug Knutzen got the call at his auto shop: Emergency at the beach. Twelve-year-old Dale Ostrander of Spanaway, Washington, had
Swept Away: A Miracle at Sea
60-year-old Hiromitsu Shinkawa and his wife fled the tsunami they feared was following the devastating earthquake in Japan. Returning to...
Averie the Snow Angel
Averie Carrion, just four years old, braved a cold, snowy night to rescue her family. Did she have a guardian...
It Happened to Alexa: Helping the Families of Rape Survivors
Our Heroes: Alexa, Stacey, and Tom Branchini Where they live: Lewiston, New York How they help: It Happened to Alexa
Father Kills Bear to Save Son
Just a few more steps, a few … more … steps. Crouched in a thick stand of pines above the
11-year-old Survivor of Floodwaters Saves Her Family
Like most Oregonians, Stephanie McRae was used to driving in foul weather. Although rain still pelted the windshield of her
World Trade Center Attack Survivor Lauren Manning: A Long Road Back to Health
September 2006, and Lauren Manning looks terrific. Striding across the lobby of a Manhattan high-rise, she exudes the confidence she
Shark! How One Surfer Survived an Attack
Silver fog blanketed California’s Monterey Bay on a late August morning last year. For Todd Endris, it was a perfect