"The rope was cut... but he didn't die", and other true stories

Survival stories turn the impossible into reality. They give us hope and remind us of our strength. They raise questions we thought were answered. So if you’re currently worried about something, or maybe feel a little scared from time to time, check out these 10 courageous stories that prove there's always a light, no matter how dark things can get.

The Tham Luang cave rescue was an unprecedented mission. In June 2018, 12 boys (aged 11-16) and their 25-year-old soccer coach were trapped in a flooded cave in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

The soccer team had entered for a simple exploration until an unexpected monsoon flooded the cave while they were still inside, blocking their only exit and trapping them 2.5 miles underground. After nine days without food, they were found alive by two British cave divers who then needed to take them out one at a time. After days of pumping water from the cave system, the boys were given oxygen masks and safely brought to the cave entrance via the underwater escape route.

Four Indigenous siblings, aged 13, 9, 4, and 11 months, survived 40 days alone in the Colombian Amazon jungle after a fatal plane crash. The 2023 rescue is one of the most impactful in modern history.

The crash led to the immediate death of all adults on board, including the pilot and the children's mother. Having survived, the eldest sister became the children’s leader, using her ancestral knowledge of the jungle to keep her siblings alive until they were rescued by "Operation Hope," which included Colombian military personnel and 200 Indigenous volunteers who understood the terrain.

Thirty-three miners were trapped 2,300 feet underground, from August to October 2010, when a catastrophic cave-in occurred at the San José mine in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. They were working to extract gold and copper when a rock collapse sealed the exit. A second collapse blocked ventilation shafts that could’ve been used as a way out.

During the first 17 days, they survived with no contact with the outside world, strictly rationing tiny portions of tuna, a single biscuit, and sips of milk every 48 hours. In total, they endured 69 days of stifling heat and extreme starvation before an unprecedented international rescue mission, which included a custom metal capsule designed by NASA engineers, brought them all safely to the surface, one by one.

Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashed in the Andes Mountains on October 13, 1972, while carrying 45 passengers and crew. The 16 survivors, all either players or closely connected to the Uruguayan rugby team on board, faced sub-zero temperatures, starvation, and an avalanche before being rescued 72 days later.

This was made possible by two of the survivors who decided to head out on a grueling 10-day mountain trek to find help. On December 20, 1972, they finally came across a muleteer named Sergio Catalán, who alerted the authorities. A couple of days later, Chilean Air Force helicopters flew into the mountains and successfully brought them back.

LANSA Flight 508 disintegrated over Peru on December 24, 1971, when it was unexpectedly struck by lightning. There was only one survivor: 17-year-old Juliane Koepcke. She was traveling with her mother to visit her father, a zoologist working in the Amazon.

Strapped to her row of seats, she fell 10,000 feet directly into the dense jungle. She survived the fall with minor injuries and spent 11 excruciating days navigating the wilderness before being rescued by local lumbermen who found her at a hut she had discovered the night before. They gave her initial care and then took her by canoe over several hours to a local village. She was finally flown by a small plane to a hospital in Pucallpa, where she was reunited with her father.

Following the capsizing of the Jascon-4 tugboat just off Nigeria's coastline, Harrison Okene, a 29-year-old local cook, managed to survive for more than 60 hours underwater by finding a four-foot air pocket in a flooded bathroom, 98.4 feet below the surface. His 11 crewmates, unfortunately, did not survive.

Vesna Vulović holds the Guinness World Record for surviving the highest fall of 30,000 feet without a parachute on January 26, 1972, following a suspected bomb explosion inside a passenger's briefcase 46 minutes into the flight aboard JAT Flight 367.

She was a Serbian flight attendant on board and the sole survivor among the 28 passengers and crew. Against all odds, she woke from her coma and regained her ability to walk in 10 months, before returning to work for the airline.

Two British mountaineers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, achieved the first ascent of the west face of Siula Grande, standing 20,814 feet tall in the Peruvian Andes. But on their descent, Simpson shattered his leg when he slipped down an ice cliff.

While lowering Simpson during a brutal storm, Yates was forced to make the "impossible choice" of cutting the rope and leaving him stranded in a crevasse. Against all odds, Simpson miraculously survived and crawled back to base camp three days later.

Alcides Moreno defied modern medical science by surviving a 47-story fall that would have been fatal for most people. He was working as a window cleaner alongside his brother in a skyscraper in New York.

When he began descending, the rope that supported him snapped, and he fell to the ground for over 17 helpless seconds. The rescue team reached him as soon as they could and found he had multiple fractures, but, against all odds, was conscious. Despite the surgeries he needed, his final recovery is considered to this day a "miracle."

Endurance was the name of an expedition ship to Antarctica that later became trapped and crushed by a pack of ice in the Weddell Sea. Sir Ernest Shackleton, the leader of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition, alongside Captain Frank Worsley and a 26-member crew, was left stranded on drifting ice.

Through expert guidance and relentless determination, he led everyone on an 800-mile lifeboat journey across the Southern Ocean to South Georgia Island, ultimately resulting in a rescue mission that saved them all.

Time is not an excuse

Short on time? These 12 amazing road trips only require a weekend

If you’re craving a getaway but can’t take a full week off, a weekend road trip can deliver just as much adventure. Across the U.S., scenic highways, mountain loops, coastal routes, and historic byways offer unforgettable experiences in just two or three days. From ocean views and desert landscapes to charming small towns and national parks, these routes prove you don’t need a long vacation to hit the open road.

California’s famous Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) is one of America’s most iconic drives. While the full route stretches hundreds of miles, a weekend is enough to enjoy highlights such as Monterey, Big Sur, San Simeon, and Santa Barbara. The road hugs dramatic cliffs and offers constant views of the Pacific Ocean.

Many travelers consider the Big Sur section the crown jewel of the route. Along the way, you’ll find beaches, redwood groves, state parks, and famous landmarks like Bixby Bridge. Even a short segment makes for an unforgettable coastal escape.

The Overseas Highway carries travelers from mainland Florida to Key West across a chain of tropical islands. The route spans 113 miles and crosses 42 bridges, including the famous Seven Mile Bridge.

A weekend provides plenty of time to explore Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, and Key West. Snorkeling, seafood restaurants, sunsets, and turquoise water views make this one of the most unique drives in America.

Known as "America’s Favorite Drive," the Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles through the Appalachian Highlands. Travelers don’t need to complete the entire route to enjoy its beauty. A weekend section offers dozens of overlooks, waterfalls, and hiking opportunities.

Popular stops include Mabry Mill, Linville Falls, Craggy Gardens, and the Blue Ridge Music Center. The scenery is especially spectacular during autumn when the mountains explode with fall colors.

A weekend on historic Route 66 offers a nostalgic journey through classic Americana. The Illinois and Missouri sections feature vintage diners, old gas stations, quirky roadside attractions, and charming small towns that preserve the spirit of the Mother Road.

Travelers can visit Springfield, Illinois, the Chain of Rocks Bridge near St. Louis, and numerous restored Route 66 landmarks. It’s a perfect short trip for anyone interested in American history and road-trip culture.

Wine lovers can spend an entire weekend exploring California’s most famous wine regions. Napa Valley and neighboring Sonoma offer rolling vineyards, scenic roads, boutique wineries, and picturesque towns.

Beyond wine tasting, visitors can enjoy gourmet restaurants, hot-air balloon rides, cycling routes, and beautiful countryside views. The short driving distances between attractions make this an easy and relaxing weekend adventure.

The San Juan Skyway is a 236-mile loop through southwestern Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. The route passes historic mining towns, alpine forests, and dramatic mountain scenery.

Many travelers consider the Million Dollar Highway between Silverton and Ouray the highlight. Towering peaks, deep canyons, and breathtaking overlooks create one of the most scenic drives in the American West.

Yellowstone National Park is large, but a carefully planned weekend allows visitors to see many of its most famous attractions. A loop through the park can include Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone Lake, and abundant wildlife viewing.

Bison, elk, bears, and wolves inhabit the region, while geysers and hot springs create landscapes unlike anywhere else in North America. A weekend provides enough time for a memorable introduction to the park.

The New England coast offers a classic weekend road trip filled with fishing villages, lighthouses, seafood shacks, and historic architecture. Popular stops include Salem, Gloucester, Portsmouth, Kennebunkport, and Portland.

Travelers can enjoy fresh lobster, scenic harbors, coastal walks, and beautiful Atlantic Ocean views. The relatively short distances between towns make it easy to see several destinations in just a couple of days.

A weekend combining Sedona and the Grand Canyon delivers some of the Southwest’s most spectacular scenery. Sedona is famous for its red-rock formations, scenic drives, and hiking trails.

Just a few hours north lies Grand Canyon National Park. Visitors can spend one day exploring Sedona and another taking in the Canyon’s breathtaking viewpoints, making this an ideal short Arizona adventure.

Utah’s five national parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands, deserve a full vacation. But a weekend can easily cover a portion of the route. Many travelers focus on Zion and Bryce Canyon because they are relatively close together.

Towering sandstone cliffs, natural arches, narrow canyons, and colorful rock formations create a landscape unlike anywhere else in the country.

Oregon’s section of Highway 101 follows a rugged coastline filled with sea stacks, beaches, cliffs, and charming coastal communities. A weekend allows travelers to experience some of the state’s most famous ocean scenery.

Popular stops include Cannon Beach, Newport, Florence, and the Oregon Dunes. Whale watching, lighthouse visits, and fresh seafood add to the appeal of this scenic Pacific Northwest getaway.

The Great River Road follows the Mississippi River through multiple states, but a weekend segment can provide an excellent taste of the experience. Travelers can choose routes through Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, or Mississippi, depending on their location.

River towns, scenic bluffs, historic sites, and wildlife refuges make this a relaxing alternative to more crowded destinations. The route showcases a different side of America shaped by the nation’s most famous river.