Escape the Antarctic Nightmare
Escape the Antarctic Nightmare
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How did 28 Men Survive an Antarctic Nightmare
How did 28 Men Survive an Antarctic Nightmare
Fight for survival
In 1914, Ernest Shackleton led 28 men south aboard the Endurance with the goal of crossing Antarctica on foot. On the way there the ship became trapped in the Weddell Sea as pack ice closed in and refused to release its grip. What started as a historic exploration quickly turned into a desperate struggle for survival.
The Endurance destroyed
Trapped in Antarctic pack ice for months, the crew fought desperately to free the Endurance, but every opening in the ice closed again. When winter arrived, the relentless pressure crushed the hull and flooded the ship beyond saving, forcing Shackleton to give the order to abandon ship.
Fleeing the wreckage
After abandoning ship, the men camped on the drifting ice for months, hauling supplies and watching the Endurance slowly sink beneath the surface. When their floe began breaking apart in April 1916, they launched three lifeboats into the freezing sea, setting course for Elephant Island.
Welcome to Elephant Island
With Elephant Island offering no hope of rescue, Shackleton took five men and sailed the tiny James Caird 800 miles to South Georgia, then crossed its mountains on foot to reach a whaling station. After three failed rescue attempts, he finally reached the stranded crew on his fourth try, bringing all 22 men home alive. It remains one of the greatest survival stories ever told.
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