Real Survival Stories: Shipwreck off Australia – Dragged Towards the Rocks

Introduction to the Odyssey Real Survival Stories, hosted by John Hopkins, delves into the harrowing true tales of ordinary individuals facing extraordinary survival scenarios. In the episode titled "Shipwreck off Australia: Dragged Towards the Rocks", released on August 6, 2025, listeners are transported to October 1973, aboard the merchant vessel Blythe Star. This narrative chronicles the intense struggle for survival faced by Mick Dolman and his crewmates after a catastrophic shipwreck in the Southern Ocean.

The Voyage Begins The story sets sail on a calm spring afternoon in Tasmania's Hobart harbor. Mick Dolman, an 18-year-old seafarer from Melbourne, boards the Blythe Star alongside a ten-man crew, anticipating a straightforward two-day journey to King Island.

John Hopkins (00:33): "It's October 19, 1973, the dead of night in the Southern Ocean... Inside the luminous inflatable is 18-year-old Mick Dolman."

Despite initial apprehensions about the ship's condition—highlighted by a dock worker's joke about the plimsoll line—Mick remains optimistic, eager to prove himself in the seafaring life.

Catastrophe Strikes Shortly after departure, unforeseen circumstances lead to the sinking of the Blythe Star. The vessel lists ominously, and Mick, along with his fellow crew members, scramble to access the emergency life raft.

Mick Dolman (17:42): "I got basically thrown out of my bunk, water can pouring down the companion way, that's an alleyway in the accommodation and started pouring into my cabin."

Chief Engineer John Eagles heroically shuts down the engines to halt the sinking, sacrificing himself in the process. The crew eventually manages to deploy the life raft, but not without peril— the raft initially fails to inflate due to the ship's malfunctioning engine, putting the crew in immediate danger from the spinning propeller.

Stranded at Sea Once aboard the life raft, the dire reality sets in. Without a mayday signal or functioning radios, Mick and his nine companions are left adrift at least six miles from the nearest land, exposed to the merciless conditions of the Southern Ocean's "roaring 40s."

John Hopkins (25:20): "Nobody knew which way the ship was going, whether it was going west about to King island or east about. So instead of looking for a needle in a haystack, we've got two or three needles in haystacks all over the place."

The crew faces extreme hunger, dehydration, and physical exhaustion. The absence of Mohammed Sloane, second engineer John Sloane, due to his inability to access thyroid medication, marks the first tragic loss among the survivors.

Desperate Measures and Hope Fades After seven grueling days, the crew endures further losses, including the death of John Sloane. The psychological toll is immense, and morale plummets as their hopes for rescue dim. However, eight days into their ordeal, a shift in the weather pattern offers a glimmer of hope. The life raft is propelled northward, presenting the crew with an unexpected opportunity to see land.

Mick Dolman (34:32): "The riptide got through by the skin of our teeth and then we came out on the other side and could barely move."

As dawn breaks, towering rock formations emerge from the ocean, trapping the raft in a perilous vortex. With Herculean effort, Mick and Mick Power manage to paddle free, though both are utterly spent.

A Ray of Hope On the ninth day, exhaustion nearly overwhelms Mick as he glimpses a cliff face through the darkness. Summoning his waning strength, he steers the raft towards what appears to be a road. The crew, desperate for rescue, paddles with their last reserves of energy.

Mick Dolman (37:21): "We seen, or we thought we seen a road along the side of the cliff that we're heading towards."

However, the hopeful sight reveals itself to be a mere part of the cliff, and the raft drifts perilously close to sharp, semi-submerged boulders. Clinging to kelp as their lifeline, the crew braces for impact, narrowly avoiding disaster.

Final Rescue and Aftermath After eleven agonizing days at sea, the crew spots a forestry worker named Rod approaching in a bright red truck. Despite initial skepticism from Rod, Mick and two others manage to convince him of their plight. Rescuers are dispatched promptly, recovering the survivors and the bodies of Ken Jones and John Eagles.

John Hopkins (49:48): "The sinking of the MV Blythe Star and the tragic loss of three of its crew turns out to be a watershed moment in Australian maritime practices."

Legacy and Reflections The tragedy of the Blythe Star led to significant changes in Australian maritime regulations, including the mandatory installation of Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) and enhanced life raft protocols. Mick Dolman, now a vocal advocate for seafarers' rights, shares his story 42 years later to honor his fallen comrades and provide closure to their families.

Mick Dolman (51:06): "I never, ever considered that I was gonna die. I wouldn't allow it. I just met a woman and I'd only been going out with her for a few months and she was off having a 17th birthday party while I was fighting for my life on a life raft."

His unwavering determination to survive was fueled by his desire to build a life with his wife, a sentiment that ultimately held him through the darkest days at sea.

Conclusion This episode of Real Survival Stories not only highlights the raw resilience and courage of Mick Dolman and his crew but also underscores the profound impact such tragedies can have on safety protocols and regulations. Mick’s story serves as a testament to the human spirit's capacity to endure and overcome unimaginable adversity.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Mick Dolman (02:34): "When we got close enough, we realized it wasn't a road, it was just a part of the cliff face. And there's no way there's a car or anything going up and down that."

• Mick Dolman (03:40): "We spent the night hanging on to a kelp to anchor us as best we can, and we'd lose it and then have to go and pull up some more kelp."

• Mick Dolman (05:06): "This raft was really worked the ass off it. It was in terrible state. We were toast really. Not much longer left in any of us."

• Mick Dolman (21:36): "It's the most welcome sign that a seafarer could ever, ever see. It just goes boom. And then it just expands, expands, expands, and we all bailed in."

• Mick Dolman (25:20): "Nobody knew which way the ship was going, whether it was going west about to King island or east about. So instead of looking for a needle in a haystack, we've got two or three needles in haystacks all over the place."

• Mick Dolman (38:00): "When we got close enough, we realized it wasn't a road, it was just a part of the, the cliff face. And there's no way there's a car or anything going up and down that."

• Mick Dolman (43:14): "There was fresh water and we just all went up and devoured as much water as we could physically drink and we had a respite there for a period of time."

• Mick Dolman (45:28): "So Malcolm McCarroll and I made a decision that we were going to go and we're not coming back. We're going to walk and walk and walk, and we'll either find something, rescue or a resource, or we'll die. But we can't sit here, can't stay here."

• Mick Dolman (51:06): "I never, ever considered that I was gonna die. I wouldn't allow it... I was determined to make a life with that woman."

Looking Ahead In the upcoming episode, Real Survival Stories introduces Jules Mountain, a cancer survivor who battles against nature again while attempting to summit Mount Everest amidst a devastating earthquake. Tune in next Thursday to hear his gripping tale of survival and resilience.

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