Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 2, Episode 11 - Castaway - full transcript

I'M BEAR GRYLLS.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT
IT TAKES TO GET OUT ALIVE

IN SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS
PLACES ON EARTH.

WHOO!

I'VE GOT TO MAKE IT
THROUGH A SERIES OF CHALLENGES

IN THE SORT OF PLACES
YOU WOULDN'T LAST A DAY

WITHOUT THE RIGHT
SURVIVAL SKILLS.

NOW I'M IN INDONESIA...

WHOO!

...A LAND RAVAGED
BY THE TSUNAMI.

I'M GONNA
BE ON A REMOTE ISLAND,



BATTLING AGAINST THE SEAS,

DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO FIND FOOD...

IT'S A STING RAY.

[ COUGHS ]

...TRYING TO GET WATER...

ALL YOU'RE GONNA GET
IS SALT WATER.

...AND USING EVERY OUNCE
OF SURVIVAL KNOWLEDGE

TO SHOW YOU
HOW TO MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.

YOU EITHER STAY,
BUT YOU'RE GONNA DIE,

OR TAKE YOUR CHANCES
WITH THE OCEAN.

I'M OFF THE WESTERN COAST
OF SUMATRA,

ONE OF THE MOST VOLCANIC
REGIONS ON EARTH.

IT'S KNOWN SIMPLY
AS THE PACIFIC RING OF FIRE.

IN 2004, ONE OF THE LARGEST
EARTHQUAKES EVER WITNESSED



ERUPTED UNDERNEATH THESE SEAS.

IT WAS SO VIOLENT
THAT THE SEABED BUCKLED

AND IS THOUGHT TO HAVE RISEN
BY A STAGGERING 15 FOOT.

I'M HEADING FOR THE EPICENTER,
THE BANYAK ISLANDS.

SOME OF THESE ISLANDS
DISAPPEARED OVERNIGHT.

OTHERS WERE CATAPULTED
OUT OF THE WATER.

THIS IS AS FAR FROM AN ISLAND
PARADISE AS YOU CAN GET.

IF YOU'RE STRANDED OUT HERE,

MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS
IS CRITICAL.

MAKE A BAD CALL,
AND YOU'RE DEAD.

I'M 9,000 FOOT UP, PREPARING
TO LAND IN OPEN OCEAN.

IT'S A DANGEROUS DROP

AND ONE THAT I CAN'T
AFFORD TO GET WRONG.

I'VE GOT A FEW
BASIC SURVIVAL TOOLS,

AND MY CAMERA CREW
IS COMING WITH ME.

I'M FREE-FALLING
AT AROUND 120 MILES AN HOUR.

[ PARACHUTE DEPLOYS ]

BEFORE I HIT THE SEA,

I MUST DETACH
FROM MY PARACHUTE.

IT'S A TECHNIQUE
USED BY THE SPECIAL FORCES,

BUT IT'S A HIGH-RISK MANEUVER.

THERE'S NOTHING BELOW ME
TO HELP ME JUDGE DISTANCES

AND GAUGE JUST WHEN TO DETACH.

THE DANGER IS DROPPING
TOO EARLY AND TOO HIGH.

GET THIS WRONG,
AND HITTING THE WATER

IS GONNA BE LIKE
LANDING ON CONCRETE.

WHOO!

OKAY.

[ Breathing heavily ]
I HIT THE...

THE WATER QUITE HARD THERE.

BUT I NEED TO
GET THIS PARACHUTE...

GET THIS OFF...

...AND START SWIMMING.

AND THERE'S THE ISLAND.
THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING.

I CAN FEEL CURRENTS
TAKE ME AWAY FROM THE ISLAND,

SO I'M GONNA NEED TO AIM OFF
IF I'M GONNA HIT IT.

STRONG CURRENTS
SURROUND THE ISLAND,

AS THE OPEN OCEAN
HITS THE LAND,

AND THERE'S A REAL DANGER

THAT THE CORAL SHELF
IS CAUSING A RIPTIDE.

FIGHTING THAT
WOULD BE A LOSING BATTLE.

THESE RIPTIDES ARE KILLERS.

AND IN AMERICA ALONE,

100 PEOPLE A YEAR
DROWN IN THEM.

THE ONE THING I CAN HEAR
IS THE ROAR OF THE SURF,

SO THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOME SORT
OF BREAK AROUND THE ISLAND.

I CAN SEE
A LINE OF BREAKERS AHEAD.

SEE THAT, SEE THE WHITE?

YOU'RE SAFER IN THE SURF.

THE CALM WATER
INDICATES WHERE THE RIPTIDE IS,

AS THE WATER IS SUCKED BACK OUT
BETWEEN THE BREAKERS.

YOU HAVEN'T GOT A CHANCE
AGAINST ITS FORCE.

WITHIN SECONDS, YOU'LL BE
DRAGGED BACK OUT TO SEA.

STAYING IN THE SURF MEANS
TAKING A POUNDING IN THE WAVES,

BUT THEY SHOULD CARRY ME
CLOSER TO THE SHORE.

BUT THERE'S ALSO RAZOR-SHARP
CORAL JUST BENEATH ME,

AND IF YOU GET
DRAGGED OVER THIS,

IT WILL CUT YOU TO SHREDS.

I'VE MADE IT ASHORE,

BUT MY CHALLENGES
ARE ONLY JUST BEGINNING.

WELL, I'M ON THE ISLAND,
JUST ABOUT.

MY FIRST BATTLE ON THIS ISLAND

COMES FROM DIRECTLY
ABOVE MY HEAD.

THE ISLAND IS ONLY 3 DEGREES
SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR,

AND IT'S ROASTING HOT.

DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE CLOUDS.

THEY OFFER NO PROTECTION
FROM HARMFUL U.V. RAYS.

AND THE SUN HERE
IS AN EVER-PRESENT ENEMY --

12 HOURS EVERY DAY.

I CAN ALREADY FEEL
MY SKIN BURNING.

15 MINUTES IS ALL IT TAKES
TO GET INTO TROUBLE,

AND SUNSTROKE HERE
CAN BE A KILLER.

MY MISSION IS TO SCAVENGE

FOR ANYTHING THAT CAN COMBAT
THE BLISTERING SUN,

AND THIS BEACH SHOULD BE FULL
OF FLOTSAM THAT CAN HELP.

I'VE BEEN TO SOME SERIOUSLY
REMOTE PLACES IN THE WORLD,

BUT WHEREVER I AM,
THERE'S ALWAYS RUBBISH,

YOU KNOW, WASHED UP,
ESPECIALLY PLASTIC --

LIKE THIS, THAT LASTS
JUST THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

AND IF YOU HAVE GOT THAT,
YOU WANT TO USE IT,

AND SURVIVAL IS ALL ABOUT
IMPROVISING AND THEN ADAPTING.

AND WHAT I CAN MAKE
OUT OF THESE BOTTLES

IS, LIKE, SOME GOGGLES --

TO HAVE A BIT OF A FORAGE
IN THE SEA AND THE SURF

AND SEE WHAT I CAN FIND.

AND IF I PUT THAT INTO THE WATER
TO BREAK THE SURFACE,

I CAN LOOK THROUGH IT
AND SEE WHAT'S ON THE BOTTOM.

I'M AFTER ONE OF NATURE'S
MIRACLES IN THESE WATERS.

CHECK THIS GUY OUT.
I'VE A MUSHROOM CORAL.

AND THIS GUY IS AMAZING,

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE SOMEWHERE

WHERE THE SUN IS AS STRONG
AS IT IS ON THIS ISLAND.

BUT IF YOU EVER DOUBTED
HOW COOL NATURE IS,

WATCH THIS.

OKAY, YOU SEE THE WATER
COMING OUT OF IT?

GIVE IT A FEW SECONDS,
AND THAT'S GONNA TURN TO MUCUS.

AND LOOK, YOU SEE IT'S SUDDENLY
NOW MUCH MORE GLOOPY.

AND WHAT THIS STUFF IS,
IS LIKE SUN BLOCK.

AND THE CORAL ITSELF,
WE USE THIS AT LOW TIDE.

WHEN IT'S EXPOSED TO THE SUN,

IT WILL SECRETE THIS
AS A WAY OF PROTECTING ITSELF.

JUST AMAZING.

SCIENTISTS
HAVE ACTUALLY RECKONED

THIS STUFF IS, LIKE,
AS GOOD AS FACTOR 50.

AND LOOK, YOU CAN SEE
ONE OF MY SHOULDERS

GETTING A LITTLE BIT
SUNBURNT ALREADY.

RUBBING THIS IN --
OH, THAT FEELS NICE --

IS GONNA HELP.

BUT THE GREAT THING
ABOUT THIS CORAL

IS THAT I'M NOT HARMING
IT AT ALL BY DOING THIS.

I'LL PUT IT BACK
AND USE HIM ANOTHER TIME.

I'M ON A TINY DESERT ISLAND

OFF THE WESTERN COAST
OF SUMATRA,

SHOWING YOU WHAT IT TAKES
TO GET OUT ALIVE.

MY MISSION NOW
IS TO EXPLORE IT,

TO DISCOVER
WHAT RESOURCES THERE ARE

TO HELP IN THE BATTLE
FOR SURVIVAL.

THE FIRST THING
THAT HITS YOU ABOUT THIS PLACE

IS JUST HOW HOT AND HUMID IT IS.

YOU KNOW, OUT THERE IN THE SUN,
IT IS JUST ROASTING HOT.

AND THEN IN HERE,
IN THE INTERIOR OF THE ISLAND,

IT'S SO HOT AND STICKY.

HUMIDITY CAN REACH
A STAGGERING 90%.

IT'S DANGEROUSLY DECEPTIVE.

YOU FEEL SOAKED TO THE SKIN,

BUT YOUR SWEAT JUST ISN'T
EVAPORATING FAST ENOUGH,

AND HEATSTROKE
IS A MAJOR RISK.

YOU NEED TO REPLACE
ANY LOST FLUIDS,

AND FINDING FRESHWATER
IS NOW YOUR TOP PRIORITY.

SO, IT'S LOOKING LIKE ALL OF
THIS ISLAND IS, LIKE, CORAL.

AND LOOK AT THIS.

IT'S ALL JUST SOLID LUMPS,
LIKE THAT...

WHICH MEANS ANY WATER
THAT FALLS HERE

IS JUST GONNA RUN THROUGH.

YOU KNOW, IT'S SO POROUS.

YOU'RE ONLY A COUPLE OF FEET
ABOVE SEA LEVEL

IS THE HIGHEST POINT.

SO EVEN IF YOU MANAGE
TO DIG DOWN,

ALL YOU'RE GONNA GET
IS SALT WATER.

AND REALLY, THE ONLY CHANCE
OF GETTING FRESHWATER

IS WHERE RAIN HAS COLLECTED
IN THE HOLLOWS OF THE TREES

AND LIKE IN A LEAF LIKE THAT.

THAT'S GONNA BE RAINWATER.

YEAH.

THERE'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH HERE
TO KEEP YOU ALIVE FOR LONG.

IN THIS CLIMATE, YOU NEED
AROUND 10 LITERS A DAY.

DEHYDRATION IS NOW
ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST ENEMIES,

AND WITH AS LITTLE AS 2.5%
LESS WATER IN YOUR BODY,

YOU BECOME A QUARTER
AS EFFICIENT.

THAT MAKES YOUR JOB
OF SURVIVING MUCH HARDER.

THE ODDS AGAINST YOU
ARE NOW STACKING UP.

THIS ISLAND JUST ISN'T
THE LARDER I WAS HOPING FOR.

BUT KNOW WHERE TO LOOK,
AND YOU CAN FIND FOOD.

YEAH, THEY'RE HERMIT CRABS.

LOOK, THEY SEE ME COMING.

THEY'VE ALL DISAPPEARED
INTO THEIR SHELLS.

LOOK, WATCH --

DISAPPEAR AND ROLL BACK
DOWN THE HILL.

AND THE SHELLS THEY'RE IN,

THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY
THEIR OWN SHELLS.

THEY'RE WHELK SHELLS.

AND WHAT THEY DO
IS TAKE IT OVER.

AND THEN WHEN THEY GROW BIGGER,

THEY'LL ABANDON THEIR HOUSE,
AND THEY'LL FIND A NEW SHELL.

BUT THESE YOU CAN EAT.

HERE YOU GO.

I'VE GOT THIS BEFORE
HE'S GONE BACK IN HIS SHELL.

AND ALL OF THIS --

OW, OW! GET OFF!

ALL OF THAT, THE GUTS.

AND THEN HE'S GOT
THIS ONE BIG CLAW HERE.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

THEY'RE MUCH EASIER TO GET
WHEN THEY'RE OUT OF THEIR SHELL,

BUT YOU GOT TO BE QUITE QUICK
TO GET THEM BEFORE THEY RETREAT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO GET OVER THAT
WORRY OF BEING BITTEN BY THEM.

OKAY, I'VE GOT
ENOUGH OF THEM HERE.

BARBECUE THEM UP. NICE CRAB.

I DON'T WANT TO EAT THEM RAW.

THEY'RE FULL
OF HARMFUL BACTERIA.

FOOD POISONING
IS THE LAST THING

YOU NEED OUT HERE.

IT'S LIKE SIGNING
YOUR OWN DEATH WARRANT.

I'M GONNA FORAGE
FOR MORE SUPPER,

AND I NEED SOMETHING
TO HELP ME.

THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT
OF FOOD ON THE ISLAND.

BUT REALLY, THE REAL BOUNTY

IS TO BE FOUND
OUT THERE IN THE SEA.

AND...

TRYING TO SHARPEN
THE END OF THIS.

THIS WILL ACT
AS A REALLY GOOD SPEAR.

I'M GONNA FREE-DIVE

AND THEN SEE WHAT I CAN FIND
ON THE SEABED.

THE CORAL
SURROUNDING THE ISLAND

SHOULD HARBOR PLENTY OF FOOD,

AND I'M AFTER SOMETHING
THAT I CAN GET EASILY.

SEA CUCUMBERS ARE SOME OF THE
SIMPLEST LIFE-FORMS IN THE SEA.

THEY SIFT PLANKTON
AND WASTE ON THE SEABED

WITH UP TO 30 TUBELIKE FEET
AROUND THEIR MOUTHS.

JUST LIKE THE EARTHWORM,

THEY'RE THE COMPLETE
RECYCLING MACHINE.

LOOKS A GIANT SACK
OF BLACK SAUSAGE.

BUT THEY'RE ONE OF THE MOST
PROTEIN-RICH FOODS IN THE WORLD

AND PERFECT FOR SURVIVAL.

[ COUGHS, SPITS ]

[ GROANS, SPITS ]

[ SPITS ]

BLACK, SALTY, RUBBERY...

PRETTY RUDDY DISGUSTING.

NOW, I'M GONNA
GET BACK INTO THE SEA

AND TRY AND FIND
SOMETHING MORE SUBSTANTIAL.

I'VE GOT TO GO DEEPER,

BUT I NEED TO
TRAIN MY BODY FIRST.

THE MORE PRACTICE DIVES I MAKE,

THE LONGER
I'M ABLE TO STAY UNDER.

AND SOON I CAN MANAGE
ALMOST TWO MINUTES.

BUT IF I IGNORE MY BODY,
I COULD BLACK OUT AND DROWN.

[ GASPS ]

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

HARD WORK.

JUST FREE-DIVING.

IT'S JUST
ABOUT SLOWLY STRETCHING

THE LIMIT THAT YOUR LUNGS
CAN WORK AT.

A LOT OF IT'S JUST
ABOUT SLOWING THINGS DOWN,

TAKE A GOOD FEW BREATHS,
FILL YOUR BLOOD WITH OXYGEN,

AND THAT WILL LET YOU
STAY DOWN THERE FOR LONGER.

YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL
NOT TO HYPERVENTILATE, THOUGH.

YOU DO TOO MUCH OF IT,
AND YOU CAN GO HYPOXIC.

HYPOXIA IS A STEALTHY KILLER.

IN THE U.S. ALONE,
4,000 VICTIMS DROWN EVERY YEAR.

YOUR EXPANDING
AIR-STARVED LUNGS

RAID YOUR BLOODSTREAM
FOR OXYGEN.

BEFORE YOU KNOW IT,
YOU'RE UNCONSCIOUS,

AND YOU DIE WITHOUT ANY IDEA
OF YOUR IMPENDING DEATH.

OKAY, WE'RE GETTING THERE NOW.

NOW I'M READY TO HUNT,

AND THERE'S A FISH
I'VE SPOTTED ON THE BOTTOM,

BURIED IN THE SAND.

IT'S A STING RAY.

BUT THESE HAVE BEEN KNOWN
TO KILL.

THE VENOM IN ITS BARB
IS LADEN WITH ENZYMES

WHICH DESTROY BODY TISSUE.

IF I GO FOR THIS,

I NEED TO GET IT RIGHT
FIRST TIME.

I'M LOOKING FOR
THE TELLTALE MOUND IN THE SAND

WHICH WILL GIVE IT AWAY.

MY LUNGS ARE NOW BURSTING,
BUT I'M DETERMINED TO GET HIM.

WHOO!

IT'S A STING RAY.

[ SPITS ]

LOOK AT IT. BEAUTIFUL.

BUT THESE CAN BE...DEADLY.

AND THE DANGEROUS BIT OF IT
IS THIS -- THE TAIL.

AND THAT'S GOOD TO EAT.

MY CHALLENGE NOW
IS THE FADING LIGHT.

BACK ONSHORE,
I'VE TO GET A SHELTER MADE

BEFORE NIGHTFALL.

ON THE EQUATOR,

IT GETS DARK
LIKE THE FLICK OF A SWITCH,

SO I NEED PLENTY OF TIME

TO FIND JUST THE RIGHT SPOT
TO MAKE CAMP.

YEAH, THIS VERY TIP END
OF THE ISLAND

IS PROBABLY GONNA BE
MY BEST PLACE FOR A SHELTER.

I GOT A REALLY GOOD VIEW HERE
OUT TO SEA,

SO I CAN SEE ANY SHIPPING
THAT MIGHT BE COMING PAST.

I'VE GOT A NICE SEA BREEZE

THAT'S GONNA KEEP
THE SAND FLIES AWAY.

AND I ALSO GOT THIS TREE --

GONNA GIVE ME GOOD SHADE
FROM THE SUN.

GOT LOADS OF DRIFTWOOD
AND FIREWOOD, AS WELL.

LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN GET.

MY CHANCES OF SIGNALING
TO A SHIP ARE SLIM.

THESE AREN'T EXACTLY

THE BUSIEST SHIPPING LANES
IN THE WORLD,

BUT THERE ARE FISHING BOATS
OUT THERE WHICH MIGHT SPOT YOU.

BUILD YOUR SHELTER
OFF THE GROUND,

WELL AWAY FROM SAND FLIES.

THEY CAN CARRY LEISHMINIASIS.

SORES, FEVER, AND DIARRHEA
ARE JUST WHAT YOU DON'T NEED.

THIS DRIFTWOOD
IS PERFECT FOR A SHELTER.

A BIT OF WOOD
IMPROVISES FOR A HAMMER,

AND I CAN TRIM THE DEAD
BRANCHES WITH MY KNIFE.

[ GROANS ]

I DON'T KNOW WHY EVERYTHING ON
THIS ISLAND IS SO RUDDY SHARP --

THE BARK ON THIS TREE,
THE CORAL.

THESE PALM FRONDS

ARE JUST WHAT I NEED
FOR MY ROOF.

THEY'RE HUGE,

AND THEIR LEAVES
ARE NATURAL CHANNELS

FOR THE RAINWATER TO DRAIN OFF.

WHOA.
ALMOST ME WITH IT.

NOW I NEED SOMETHING TO LASH
EVERYTHING TOGETHER WITH,

AND I KNOW
JUST WHERE TO FIND IT.

JUST LOOK AT THIS PLACE.
INCREDIBLE.

IT'S ACTUALLY JUST ONE GIANT,
HUGE FIG TREE,

BUT IT'S GOT, LIKE,
HUNDREDS OF THESE VINES

THAT ARE, LIKE, SPROUTED OFF IT.

AND THESE WOULD BE IDEAL
CORDAGE FOR A SHELTER...

IF I CAN JUST GET THEM DOWN.

THEY'RE SUPER, SUPER STRONG.

SEE IF WE CAN GET UP THIS ONE.

THIS VINES ARE INCREDIBLY
SUPPLE AND STRONG

AND WILL HELP
TO REINFORCE MY SHELTER

AGAINST TROPICAL STORMS.

VINES ARE THE ANSWER
TO A SURVIVALIST'S PRAYERS.

IN INDONESIA, THERE ARE MORE
THAN 2,000 TYPES,

AND THESE CAN BE HUNDREDS
OF FEET LONG.

SO, THAT'S A VINE DOWN.

COOL.
LET'S GO AND GET THIS BUILT.

I'M MAKING
AN A-FRAME SHELTER --

TOUGH ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND
A TROPICAL DOWNPOUR.

THAT THE FIRST UPRIGHTS
LASHED TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S GONNA GO LIKE THAT.

[ LAUGHS ]

AND THEN THIS IS
THE OTHER A-FRAME OF IT.

AND THEN THROUGH THE MIDDLE,
WE'LL HAVE THIS.

I'M MAKING IT ABOUT 6 FOOT,
JUST LONG ENOUGH TO TAKE ME.

WITH MY WEIGHT
COMPRESSING THE FRAME,

THE SHELTER BECOMES ONE
OF THE STRONGEST YOU CAN BUILD.

AND THAT IS THEN THE TWO LENGTHS
OF THE BEDPOST.

AND WHAT HAPPENS,
I PUT MY WEIGHT ON IT,

IT WILL PUSH IT DOWN
AND HOLD IT IN PLACE.

AND I JUST NEED VINE
TO GO ROUND AND ROUND

AND MAKE, LIKE,
A HAMMOCK OUT OF THIS.

THE WHOLE THING TAKES ME
JUST OVER A COUPLE OF HOURS.

AND THAT'S THE BED FRAME.

AND NOW I NEED THE PALM FRONDS.

GRAB THE END

AND THEN JUST
SPLIT THEM IN HALF.

IT COMES AWAY REALLY NICELY.

AND THIS MAKES GREAT ROOFING.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND SUNNY NOW,

BUT WHEN
THESE TROPICAL STORMS HIT,

YOU REALLY KNOW ABOUT IT.

THEY ROAR THROUGH,

UNLEASHING AN INCH OR MORE
OF RAIN IN AN HOUR,

SO, I'M NOT GONNA MISS

ANY OPPORTUNITY
TO COLLECT FRESHWATER.

IF I JUST SPLIT THIS BAMBOO...

...DOWN THE MIDDLE,

I CAN USE THAT THEN
AS SOME GUTTERING AT THE BACK.

PLACE IT DIRECTLY
UNDER THESE LEAVES.

IT WILL COLLECT
ALL THE WATER RUNNING OFF HERE.

SO LET'S HOPE IT RAINS.

MY SHELTER'S FINISHED,

AND I'VE JUST GOT ENOUGH TIME
TO COLLECT WOOD FOR MY FIRE.

THE BEST PLACE
FOR ME TO GET TINDER

IS SOME OF THIS PALM FIBER
AT THE TOP OF THE COCONUT TREE.

COCONUT IS KNOWN
AS THE TREE OF A THOUSAND USES.

AND IT'S A LIFESAVER --
FOOD, FLUID, TINDER.

AND WHEN THE HUSK BURNS,
IT REPELS MOSQUITOES.

THE GOOD THING
ABOUT THIS STUFF

IS THAT
IT'S ALL NICE AND DRY.

IT'S DRIED BY THE SUN.

RUB IT UP,
SO IT'S JUST THE FIBERS.

AND THEN THAT WILL TAKE A SPARK.

[ SCRATCHING ]

AT NIGHT,
IT'S AROUND 70 DEGREES,

SO YOU DON'T NEED A FIRE
SO MUCH FOR WARMTH

AS FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL BOOST
IT CAN GIVE YOU.

AND, OF COURSE, IT MEANS
I CAN COOK MY STING RAY.

THE BITS OF THIS
THAT I WANT TO EAT

ARE THE WINGS HERE.

A BIT OF DRIFTWOOD
MAKES A PERFECT SKEWER.

AND I'VE GOT THESE CRAB CLAWS.

SPRINKLE THESE
INTO THE HOT COALS.

AND THEN THAT'S GONNA
BE A PROPER SEAFOOD SUPPER --

STING RAY AND HERMIT CRAB CLAWS.

LET'S SEE IF THESE
CRAB CLAWS ARE READY.

MMM. THAT'S AMAZING.

BE EVEN BETTER
WITH SOME MAYONNAISE.

WITH FRESHWATER SO SCARCE,
EAT LITTLE AND OFTEN.

OTHERWISE,
DIGESTION USES UP FLUIDS

YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE.

DON'T DO ANYTHING
THAT WILL HASTEN DEHYDRATION.

MAN, IT'S CHEWY AS HELL

AND ACTUALLY
DOESN'T TASTE VERY NICE.

I NORMALLY LOVE FISH, BUT...

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY
QUITE A MEAN ONE.

NOW THERE'S ONE LONG NIGHT
AHEAD OF ME --

12 HOURS OF DARKNESS
ON THE EQUATOR.

BEING ABANDONED
ON A DESERT ISLAND

MUST BE A VERY
FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE.

AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE DAYTIME,
THIS PLACE JUST LOOKS IDYLLIC.

YOU GOT BLUE SKIES,
SUN, SEA, SAND,

BUT AT NIGHTTIME,
IT'S JUST PITCH BLACK.

AND THAT SENSE OF ISOLATION

WHERE ALL YOU'VE GOT AROUND YOU
IS JUST VAST OPEN OCEAN...

IS VERY POWERFUL.

[ FIRE CRACKLES ]

[ SCRATCHING ]

NOW THE WIND HAS PICKED UP.

I CAN ALSO HEAR ALL THESE CRABS,
LIKE, SCURRYING AROUND UNDER ME.

ON TOP OF THAT,

THIS BED IS SERIOUSLY
BEGINNING TO CREAK.

AND THERE'S ONE REALLY ANNOYING
BIT OF PALM FROND IN MY BACK.

SO, AT THE MOMENT,

THERE'S NOT A LOT
OF SLEEPING GOING ON HERE.

I'VE JUST SPENT A LONG
AND UNCOMFORTABLE NIGHT

ON A REMOTE ISLAND
OFF THE COAST OF SUMATRA.

I'VE GOT TO MAKE IT THROUGH
A SERIES OF SURVIVAL CHALLENGES

TO SHOW YOU
HOW TO GET OUT ALIVE.

AND THIS MORNING,
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP.

WHEN THESE TROPICAL STORMS HIT,
THEY'RE FIERCE.

JUST LOOK AT IT POURING DOWN.

AND ALL OF THIS RAIN COLLECTOR
IS FILLING UP REALLY FAST.

I'M GONNA PUT
MORE OF THEM OUT, ACTUALLY.

BUT FOR ME, THIS IS JUST HEAVEN.

WHEN IT RAINS LIKE THIS,
YOU JUST GOT TO HAVE YOUR FILL.

DRINK AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

AND STORE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

AND I'M SOAKED.
I'M GONNA GO HAVE A WASH.

'CAUSE THE REST OF THE TIME,

IT'S JUST BEEN ROASTING-HOT,
NO WIND.

AND NOW, IT'S JUST, LIKE...

POURING AND A NICE FRESH BREEZE.

[ SIGHS ]
THAT IS SO NICE.

GET ALL OF THAT SALT OFF ME.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU LIVE
WITH SALT FOR A LONG TIME,

IT JUST GIVES YOU SORES,
LOADS OF ABRASION.

AND THIS IS JUST HEAVEN.

BEFORE THE PUNISHING HEAT
AND HUMIDITY KICK IN AGAIN,

I'M GRABBING
THE CHANCE TO EXERCISE.

IT WILL RELEASE ENDORPHINS,

WHICH WILL PUMP
YOUR BODY AND MIND --

READY TO FACE THE DAILY
STRUGGLES FOR SURVIVAL.

YEAH!

AH, IT FEELS GOOD!

THE DOWNPOUR
MEANS I'VE GOT FRESHWATER,

BUT THERE'S NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH

TO KEEP YOU GOING
ON THIS ISLAND FOR LONG.

HOWEVER DESPERATE YOU ARE,

NEVER BE TEMPTED
TO DRINK SEAWATER.

YOUR KIDNEYS WILL COLLAPSE.

THERE'S A MILITARY
RULE OF THUMB

THAT SAYS YOU CAN SURVIVE
THREE WEEKS WITHOUT FOOD

BUT ONLY THREE DAYS
WITHOUT WATER.

IN A PLACE LIKE THIS,
YOU'RE NEARING CRUNCH POINT.

YOU EITHER STAY AND FACE DEATH

OR THINK OF A WAY
TO GET OFF THIS ISLAND.

BUT FIRST, I'M BACK IN THE SEA.
I NEED SOME BREAKFAST.

THIS SPINY SEA URCHIN

BRISTLES WITH PAIN-INFLICTING
DEFENSE MECHANISMS.

AS WELL AS THE SPINES,

SOME SEA URCHINS
CAN RELEASE VENOM

WHICH HAS BEEN KNOWN
TO CAUSE PARALYSIS.

LOOK AT THIS GUY.

HE'S QUITE
A NASTY-LOOKING FELLA.

LOOK AT THE SIZE
OF THE SPIKES ON THIS.

STAND ON THAT,
YOU'RE GONNA KNOW ABOUT IT.

AND ACTUALLY,
OFTEN WHAT HAPPENS,

PEOPLE ARE OUT SWIMMING
OR SNORKELING,

AND THEY'LL STAND ON IT

AND GET THESE BARBS
IN THEIR FEET.

AND THEY'RE REALLY HARD
TO GET OUT.

WHAT HAPPENS --
PULL IT THIS WAY, IT'S FINE.

GO THE OTHER WAY...

AND THERE'S JUST MILLIONS AND
MILLIONS OF THESE LITTLE BARBS

THAT WILL JUST STICK
IN YOUR FEET.

AND ACTUALLY, WHAT THE LOCALS
DO IF THEY STAND ON THIS --

THEY SAY THE ONLY WAY
OF GETTING IT OUT

IS TO GET A BIT OF WOOD
AND JUST BEAT YOUR FEET

UNTIL ALL OF THESE LITTLE BITS

HAVE BROKEN UP
INTO TINY LITTLE FRAGMENTS,

AND THEN YOUR BODY
CAN ABSORB IT.

BUT YOU CAN ALSO EAT THIS.

AND YOU WANT TO GET
ALL OF THESE BARBS OFF FIRST

SO YOU DON'T SPIKE YOURSELF.

THEN WHAT YOU WANT TO DO

IS SPLIT IT
STRAIGHT ACROSS THE MIDDLE.

THERE WE GO. OKAY.
LOOK, YOU SEE INSIDE OF IT.

ALL OF THE SAND AND THE GUTS --
I DON'T WANT THAT.

BUT UNDERNEATH THIS,

SEE ALL OF THESE
BROWN BITS HERE?

THAT'S ALL OF ITS EGGS,
ALL OF ITS ROE.

AND ALL OF THESE EGGS
ARE GOOD TO EAT.

THEY SAY THIS IS
THE CAVIAR OF THE SEA.

[ GROANS ]

IT'S LIKE...

IT'S LIKE KIND OF BABY POOP.

OR CAVIAR.

BUT LOADS OF GOOD ENERGY.

GOOD PROTEIN
AND NUTRIENTS IN THIS.

[ SUCKS ]

IT'S A QUICK ENERGY BOOST,

BUT WATER REMAINS
MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH RAINWATER
I'VE MANAGED TO COLLECT,

IT'S NOT GONNA LAST LONG.

TO SURVIVE MEANS FACING
SOME STARK CHOICES.

THE SIMPLE TRUTH IS,

IF YOU'RE STUCK
ON A DESERT ISLAND

WITH A LIMITED AMOUNT
OF FRESHWATER,

YOU'VE GOT A CHOICE.

YOU EITHER STAY,
BUT YOU'RE GONNA DIE

A SLOW, LINGERING DEATH
OF DEHYDRATION...

OR YOU TAKE YOUR CHANCES
WITH THE OCEAN AND BUILD A RAFT.

AND WHAT THIS ISLAND
LACKS IN FRESHWATER,

IT MAKES UP FOR IN RESOURCES.

AND I KNOW THE CHOICE
THAT I'D MAKE.

IT MIGHT LOOK IDYLLIC,

BUT EVERY DAY
IN A PLACE LIKE THIS

IS A BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL.

WHAT FOOD THERE IS,

IS MOSTLY OUT THERE
IN THE OCEAN,

AND IT'S PRETTY GRIM.

AND INLAND,
THERE ARE ONLY SMALL PICKINGS.

HERE YOU GO.
LOOK, HERE'S A TERMITE'S NEST.

SEE THIS? SHE RUNS
ALL THE WAY UP THE TREE.

AND LOOK, IF I HACK
A BIT OF THIS OFF...

THERE YOU GO.

LOOK AT MY ARM --

LOADS OF THEM
ALL THE WAY ALONG HERE.

AND I CAN JUST EAT THESE...

STRAIGHT OFF THERE.

QUITE TANGY.

BUT NICE.

IF YOU LIKE THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT THEN, AFTER YOU'VE FINISHED,
GET THEM ALL OFF.

OTHERWISE,
THEY'LL GET INTO YOUR PANTS,

DOWN YOUR TROUSERS...

AND YOU DON'T WANT THAT.

BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM
IS FRESHWATER.

THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH OF IT.

RISK STAYING ON THE ISLAND,

AND IT'S A CERTAIN
DEATH SENTENCE.

ESCAPE IS YOUR BEST CHANCE
OF MAKING IT OUT ALIVE.

I'M GONNA BUILD A RAFT.

ALL OF THIS HERE IS NOW
THE DOWNWARD TIP OF THE ISLAND,

AND IT'S WHERE
ALL OF THE DRIFTWOOD --

LOOK, YOU SEE
ALL OF THIS STUFF --

HAS GOT WASHED UP...

PUT HERE BY ALL
OF THE STORMS AND THE CURRENTS

WOULD HAVE JUST WASHED IT UP
ONTO THIS BEACH.

BUT IT'S THIS STUFF
THAT I CAN USE.

AND A LITTLE BAMBOO
LIKE THIS IS IDEAL.

IT'S MUCH BETTER
THAN WHEN IT'S LIVING.

IT DOESN'T HAVE
ALL THE MOISTURE IN IT.

AND JUST LOADS AND LOADS
OF DEADWOOD AROUND --

DEAD, STRAIGHT, FLOATY WOOD.

BUT I'M NOT GONNA
MISS THIS CORAL,

THAT'S FOR SURE.

OW!

WHAT I WANT FROM THIS RAFT

IS BOTH STRENGTH
AND FLEXIBILITY,

AND BAMBOO IS IDEAL.

YEAH, IT'S SUPER STRONG.

THAT'S WHY SO MANY PEOPLE
AROUND THE WORLD

USE IT FOR, LIKE, SCAFFOLDING
AND BUILDING MATERIAL.

BAMBOO RULES OVER CONCRETE
IN MANY EARTHQUAKE ZONES.

IT BENDS RATHER THAN COLLAPSES
IN TREMORS,

AND IT'S THOSE QUALITIES
I NEED FOR MY RAFT.

IT'S HOLLOW,
BUOYANT, AND TOUGH.

BUT WHAT YOU COULD USE TO LASH
IT ALL TOGETHER IS JUST VINES.

BUT MY EXPERIENCE OF VINES
IN THE SEA IS THAT THEY STRETCH.

AND, YOU KNOW, OVER TIME,
WHEN YOU GET SOME BIG SWELLS,

IT CAN EASILY COME APART.

SO, INSTEAD,
WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS,

MAKE THESE SORT OF HOLES ALL
THE WAY THROUGH EACH OF THEM

AND THEN PUT A BIT OF WOOD

STRAIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE
LIKE THAT.

AND WHAT THAT'S DOING IS THEN
USING THE STRENGTH OF THE BAMBOO

TO HOLD IT TOGETHER

RATHER THAN THE STRENGTH
OF THE VINE.

IT'S GONNA TAKE ABOUT
THREE HOURS TO BUILD THIS.

[ GRUNTS ]

IT'S HARD WORK, THIS,

BUT THIS IS GONNA GIVE
REAL STRENGTH TO THIS RAFT.

AND THAT'S THEN
THE PLATFORM COMPLETE.

THE ONE THING
YOU'VE ALSO GOT TO REMEMBER,

WHEN YOU MAKE A RAFT,

BUILD IT SOMEWHERE
WHERE YOU CAN LAUNCH IT.

'CAUSE IT'S SO EASY
TO MAKE A BIG THING,

GET READY TO LAUNCH IT,
AND THEN IT'S TOO BIG AND HEAVY,

BECAUSE THIS THING
IS A BIG HEAVY BRUTE.

BUT HOPEFULLY...

IT'S GONNA KEEP ME AFLOAT
OUT THERE ON THE OCEAN.

BEFORE HEADING OUT TO SEA,

YOU WANT TO GET YOURSELF
SOME PROVISIONS.

AND THE BEST THING I CAN GET
IS SOME OF THOSE.

AND THIS IS PROBABLY GONNA BE
THE BEST ONE TO TRY AND GET UP.

AND I CAN TELL ALREADY

THIS IS GONNA BE AS SLIPPERY
AS AN ICE RINK.

ONE WAY OF GETTING UP THIS
WITHOUT USING ANY CLIMBING TOOLS

IS JUST TO IMPROVISE SOMETHING
TO BE ABLE TO PULL ON.

AND I'VE GOT THIS VINE.

I'LL JUST TIE THIS

IN A REALLY SIMPLE
OVERHAND KNOT.

IT WILL ACT AS LIKE
A SELF-TIGHTENING SLIPKNOT.

[ GRUNTS ]

THE VINE WILL THEN
CREATE ENOUGH FRICTION

TO ALLOW ME
TO CONTROL THE CLIMB.

IT'S THE GREEN COCONUTS
AT THE TOP THAT I'M AFTER.

THEY CAN BE PACKED
WITH A LITER OF FLUID.

IF I USE ONE
THAT'S ALREADY FALLEN,

THERE'S LESS LIQUID IN IT.

OKAY, THROW US THE CAMERA.

AND COCONUTS ARE GREAT
SURVIVAL FOOD FOR RAFTS

JUST BECAUSE THEY LAST FOR AGES

AND AREN'T GONNA PERISH
IN THE SALT WATER,

GOT LOADS OF CALORIES,
AND INSIDE THEM

IS ALL OF THAT GOOD COCONUT
FLESH AND COCONUT JUICE.

BUT RATION YOURSELF.

DRINK TOO MUCH,
AND YOU RISK GETTING DIARRHEA,

AND THAT'S A FAST ROUTE
TO DEHYDRATION.

SOON, I'LL BE LAUNCHING
MY RAFT.

AND GETTING ONTO THE ISLAND
WAS TOUGH,

BUT GETTING OUT TO SEA
THROUGH THE SURF

IS GONNA BE A REAL BATTLE.

IN MANY WAYS,
ONE OF THE BIGGEST DANGERS

OUT ON THE OCEAN
ON A RAFT LIKE THIS

IS ACTUALLY THE SUN.

SO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
IS MAKE SOME SORT OF SHADE.

BEING SO CLOSE TO THE EQUATOR

MEANS THAT THE CONSTANT HEAT
AND HUMIDITY DRAINS YOU.

OUT AT SEA, THE REFLECTION
OF THE SUN ON THE WATER

INTENSIFIES ITS STRENGTH.

THESE PALMS ARE JUST WHAT
I NEED TO HELP PROTECT ME.

I'M ALMOST READY
TO HEAD OUT TO SEA.

THERE ARE DANGEROUS CURRENTS,
STORIES OF PIRATES,

AND IT'S A GAMBLE.

BUT YOUR CHANCES
ARE BETTER OUT AT SEA

THAN STAYING PUT ON THIS ISLAND
IN THE HOPE OF BEING RESCUED.

THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH
FRESHWATER TO SURVIVE FOR LONG.

I DO STILL BELIEVE
THIS IS A GAMBLE WORTH TAKING.

BUT IF I'M HONEST,
I AM NERVOUS ABOUT WHETHER...

I'M GONNA MAKE IT
THROUGH THESE BREAKERS.

THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY
TO FIND OUT.

OUT THERE
ARE NEARLY 100 ISLANDS

HUDDLED ON THIS ARCHIPELAGO.

MAKE IT TO ANOTHER ONE,

AND THERE COULD
BE BETTER RESOURCES

OR YOU COULD BE RESCUED
BY A FISHING BOAT.

I WANT TO USE THE RIPTIDES --
NARROW CHANNELS OF WATER

RUSHING OUT
BETWEEN THE BREAKERS.

THEY MADE IT TOUGH FOR ME
TO LAND ON THE ISLAND,

BUT IF I GET IT RIGHT,

I SHOULD BE ABLE
TO PROPEL MY RAFT OUT OF HERE.

BUT THE WAVES ARE SUDDENLY
COMING AT ME FROM ALL SIDES.

I JUST HOPE MY RAFT
STANDS UP TO THE BATTERING.

I'VE GOT TO USE MY DRIFTWOOD
PADDLE TO HELP STEER MY COURSE.

I DON'T QUITE BELIEVE

I MADE IT STRAIGHT OUT
THROUGH THAT CORAL REEF.

AND THE RIPTIDE DID
EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS MEANT TO DO.

IT TOOK ME STRAIGHT OUT

BETWEEN WHERE THOSE WAVES
WERE CURLING AND BREAKING.

BRILLIANT.

THERE'S NO TELLING HOW LONG

YOU COULD BE ALONE
ON THE OCEAN.

AND YOU DO FEEL
VERY INSIGNIFICANT

AS YOU FLOAT
IN THIS VAST EMPTINESS.

THERE'S NOTHING
BUT A GNAWING LONELINESS.

TRY AND CONSERVE YOUR ENERGY
AND KEEP FOCUSED.

REALLY, I'M LOSING THE LIGHT.

NOW WE WANT TO SEE
IF I MAKE IT ACROSS...

TO ONE OF THOSE OTHER ISLANDS
BEFORE THE SUN SETS,

'CAUSE I REALLY DON'T WANT TO
BE ON THIS RAFT AT NIGHTTIME.

MY RAFT TOOK A BIT OF BATTERING

IN THE LAUNCH
THROUGH THE BREAKERS.

IT'S SITTING LOW IN THE WATER,

AND I'M HAVING TO DO
CONTINUOUS RUNNING REPAIRS.

BUT THEN, I CAN HEAR
THE SOUND OF AN ENGINE.

IT'S THE SORT OF SIGHT
YOU PRAY FOR.

HEY!

LET'S GET THIS OFF.

BUMP INTO THESE GUYS,
AND YOUR ORDEAL IS OVER.

MY CHALLENGES OF SURVIVAL ON
A REMOTE INDONESIAN ISLAND

IN ONE OF THE MOST VOLATILE
PLACES ON EARTH

HAS BEEN SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT NOW IT'S TIME
FOR ME TO HEAD HOME.