Two Teenagers Survive 7 Days Lost at Sea by Eating 100 Jellyfish, Clinging Together for Warmth and Hunger

In 2005, two high school students from North Charleston, South Carolina, set out on a seemingly normal fishing trip, which turned into an unimaginable survival story.

Troy Driscoll, aged 15, and his 17-year-old best friend, Josh Long, were caught in a riptide on April 24, 2005, and drifted out to sea. What was meant to be a simple fishing excursion quickly became a nightmare as they found themselves stranded without any means of communication or emergency equipment.

Josh recalled, "We were trying to position the boat between the beach and a sandbar, but within 20 minutes, the riptide pulled us away. We couldnt anchor, and we just kept drifting." The boys attempted to signal for help, but no one saw them. As darkness fell, the shore was no longer visible, and the next morning, all they could see was open water. "We just prayed," Josh said.

Without a phone, radio, or any emergency devices, their parents alerted the Coast Guard by 10 p.m. The search involved boats, helicopters, and volunteers, but after three days of searching, there was still no sign of the teens. The operation shifted from rescue to recovery, with everyone fearing the worst.

Meanwhile, the boys were clinging to each other on their small boat, trying to keep warm in soaking conditions. "We couldnt sleep; we just tried to hold on," Josh said. As the days went on, the heat became unbearable, and they resorted to diving in the water to cool off. However, sharks soon appeared, forcing them to stay out of the water.

With no fresh water, the boys grew desperate. Josh remembered seeing the crystal-clear ocean and describing it as looking like "blue Gatorade." "Troy begged me to let him drink, but I told him it would kill him if he did," Josh recalled.

Rain provided some relief, but the drizzle wasnt enough to quench their thirst. "I had my mouth open to catch the raindrops, but it wasnt enough. I started licking the water from the deck," Josh said.

Hunger soon became unbearable. "I ate a jellyfish to see if it would kill me. It didnt. I ended up eating about 100 of them," Troy explained. "Theyre slimy, but it was the only option." Desperate, Troy even joked about eating his own finger. "At one point, Troy said, 'Please, help me get out of here or just end it for me.' I couldnt," Josh recalled.

After seven days adrift, their nightmare ended when two fishermen spotted their small boat drifting 111 miles from their departure point. The boys were found seven miles off Cape Fear, on April 30, 2005.

Ben Degutis, a 70-year-old fisherman, described the moment: "At first, I didnt know what I was looking at, but as we got closer, I could see two young men waving. One of them shouted, 'Thank God!'"

After being rescued, the boys were taken to the hospital. Josh had lost 30 pounds, and Troy suffered second-degree burns on his face and feet, requiring a three-day hospital stay. "It was like getting my son back for the first time," Troy's father said, overwhelmed with joy at their reunion.

During their ordeal, the teens made plans to meet up once they recovered and celebrate with the ultimate sundae. "We dreamed about it while we were stranded. Once were out of here, were going for the biggest sundae ever," Josh said.

Author: Harper Simmons