Real Survival Stories

In remotest India, one moment of misfortune sees a daring adventure snowball into an epic escape. A group of professional mountaineers set out to ascend Panchachuli V, an unclimbed Himalayan peak. But in whiteout conditions the treacherous, adrenalising descent will nearly cost Stephen Venables his life… A Noiser production, written by Joe Viner. For ad-free listening, bonus material and early acc...

A brand-new podcast from the Noiser network. Join domestic historian Ruth Goodman as she explores the remarkable, often epic, tales behind everyday objects. This taster episode is all about the fridge. In Ancient Persia, ingenious ice houses refrigerate food in one of the hottest deserts on earth. Bronze Age sites on Orkney reveal the secrets of early cold storage systems. A well-known sea captain...

After a relaxing family holiday in a Montana national park, Ted Porter stays on for a few days. He wants to explore, to tackle some longer hikes and bigger climbs. But as he descends a remote glacier all alone, a whirlwind of an accident leaves him trapped inside a deep fissure in the ice. With no hope of rescue, and with a broken back, he must somehow find a way out. Ted is about to discover an i...

We return to the MTS Oceanos for the second part of Moss Hills’s extraordinary tale. With time running out on the sinking ship, and in the absence of senior officers, the heroic on-board entertainment crew must step up to the plate. They will save the lives of the remaining passengers… or die trying… A Noiser production, written by Joe Viner. For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access...

Moss Hills is a guitarist. He and Tracy, his wife, work as musicians on board a luxury ocean liner. It’s their job to keep the passengers happy, whatever the weather. But when the vessel hits deadly seas and the power cuts out, the couple will find themselves responsible for a lot more than the guests’ entertainment… A Noiser production, written by Joe Viner. Listen to Part 2 of Moss’s story right...

After scaling the stunning Mount Goddard, an accident leaves Gregg Hein seriously injured at four thousand metres. Things only get worse as he falls down the mountainside, hurtling towards the rocks below. Even if he can halt his descent, in his condition his prospects are bleak. And this deep in the backcountry, he’s totally alone… A Noiser production, written by Chris McDonald. For ad-free liste...

A leisurely scuba dive in Indonesia goes sideways when the group is caught in a fierce current. Swept out to sea, Jim Manning and his fellow castaways must find land urgently. But even if they make it ashore, what awaits them on terra firma may pose an even greater danger… A Noiser production, written by Joe Viner. For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser...

In Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains, Gabe Joyes hits the trails in preparation for an upcoming ultramarathon. But a single innocuous stumble sees his run take a deadly turn. With his life literally slipping through his fingers, Gabe needs to act lightning fast to stand any chance of pulling through… A Noiser production, written by Chris McDonald. For ad-free listening, bonus material and early acces...

In Hawaii, a yoga instructor pays a visit to her local forest reserve. Amanda Eller intends to take a short hike in nature to blow off some steam. It becomes a mind-bending, multi-day journey, as she stumbles off the path and into the trees. Penned in by the dense foliage, with the days blurring into one, Amanda must adapt to survive… A Noiser production, written by Chris McDonald. For ad-free lis...

A London firefighter swaps the intense heat of his day job for the extreme cold of Western Europe’s tallest mountain. As Dan Acquah begins a multi-day ascent with his friend, Matt Tomlinson, spirits are high. But as they inch upwards, the difficulties stack up. With both of their lives in danger, but one climber more mobile than the other, a decision will have to be made. Their friendship will fac...

In 1976, Lauren Elder takes up the last-minute offer of a sightseeing flight with some friends. The plan is to range out over the desert, stop for a picnic, then head home before it’s dark. As she boards the light aircraft, Lauren never imagines she’ll end up stranded on a mountaintop. There she’ll face a desperate choice: wait for a rescue that may never materialise? Or descend the wall of rock a...

A commercial diver finds himself cut off from his support team. When a routine shift goes awry, Chris Lemons is left all alone at the bottom of the North Sea, 127 miles off the coast of Scotland. He has mere minutes before his emergency supply of oxygen runs out. His colleagues will risk everything to get him back. It’s up to Chris to stay alive long enough for them to reach him… A Noiser producti...

An academic from the UK gets into serious trouble in the world’s highest mountain range. Jonathan Bamber has set his sights on a virgin peak - a summit no climber has ever reached before. But near the top, a freak accident leaves him grievously injured. As a scientist, Jonathan can’t help but face the grim facts of his situation. But he also knows that he must cling to hope for as long as he can…...

Teenager Alex Messenger journeys into remotest Canada in search of true adventure. He never imagines he’ll end up fighting for his life at the edge of the Arctic Circle. Cornered by a fearsome, four-legged beast, Alex must do his utmost to stay calm and remember his training. But even if he survives this encounter, how on earth will he and his friends make it out of the wilderness? For more on Ale...

In 2013, Brett Archibald travels to Indonesia with some friends. His hopes for a memorable holiday come true… but for all the wrong reasons. During a stormy boat crossing, he falls overboard unnoticed. It’s the dead of night and he’s fifty miles from shore, without a life jacket. Brett has only one thing going for him: his indomitable will to survive. For more on Brett’s story read his book, Alone...

This is a taster episode from our sister show, Short History Of… If you enjoy it and want to hear more, follow Short History Of… wherever you get your podcasts. Standing over 29,000 feet above sea level, the peak of Everest is the highest point on Planet Earth. To the Sherpa people of the Himalayas it is sacred. To foreign adventurers it’s the holy grail of climbing. But what did it take to reach...

Scott Johnson and his wife Marybeth have an idyllic life in rural Oregon. Surrounded by ancient woodland, forest fires are a common occurrence - something you learn to exist with. When the couple go to bed one night in September 2020, they have no idea what lies in store. Soon, they’ll be trapped in the heart of the most ferocious wildfire seen in these parts for thirty years. Out of options and o...

Nick Ward is a young English sailor chasing a lifetime ambition, as he competes in one of the world’s elite yacht races. But out in the Celtic Sea, he and his crewmates find themselves caught in a once-in-a-generation storm. For hours they’ll fight together, side by side. But after one wave too many, Nick will be left to face this life-or-death struggle alone… A Noiser production, written by Dan S...

We return to Eric LeMarque, whose ordeal on Mammoth Mountain is far from over. Before he can even think about navigating his way to safety, he has to survive the raging torrent he’s fallen into. And it’s not just the icy clutches of the river. There’s also the 80-foot waterfall that lies downstream… A Noiser production, written by Joe Viner. For more on Eric’s story, read 6 Below: Miracle on the M...

Eric LeMarque is a former professional ice hockey player, an Olympian who’s tasted incredible highs in his sport. But in 2004, his life is spiralling out of control. Hoping to escape his demons, he takes a snowboarding trip to Mammoth Mountain. After one run too many, he’ll find himself lost in a sprawling alpine wilderness, where the cold isn’t the only thing that bites… A Noiser production, writ...

Paul Templer has one of the most wholesome jobs imaginable: paddling entranced visitors along Africa’s beautiful Zambezi River to the majestic Victoria Falls. But one day, his tour party is attacked… by a ferocious bull hippopotamus. As panic descends, Paul must do his utmost to ensure no man is left behind… A Noiser production, written by Susan Allott. For more on Paul’s story, read Marked for Li...

Jeffrey Heim spends every minute of his free time pursuing his passion: scouring Florida’s waterways for fossilised shark teeth. But on one river diving expedition, he encroaches on the territory of a living, thriving, reptilian predator. With barely time to think, let alone react, Jeffrey’s survival will hinge on decisions made in the blink of an eye. A Noiser production, written by Joe Viner. Fo...

We return to the shipwrecked crew of the Lucette. After their yacht was sunk by killer whales, the Robertsons have failed to flag down a passing ship. Now, with just a raft and a dinghy to carry them, the castaways must summon their resilience and focus on Plan B: navigating six hundred miles back to dry land… You can see the Robertsons’ tiny dinghy at the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth, UK:...

It’s one of the all-time, epic survival stories. In 1971, Douglas Robertson is just a teenager when he and his family embark on the trip of a lifetime. Their aim is to sail around the globe. But when their small yacht is sunk in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, their dream of circumnavigation turns into a nightmare of self-preservation. The Robertsons must stick together and battle extraordinary a...

As an outdoors survivalist, Ken Hildebrand believes he’s prepared for any eventuality. But when he upends his quad bike on a remote mountain pass, his skills and training are strained to the limit. Trapped underneath the vehicle, can he stay calm and put theory into practice? And with his gear tantalisingly out of reach, can he improvise a solution to each new challenge that arises? A Noiser produ...