[tense music]
[Ant] There's an old saying,
"When ships were made of wood, men were made of steel."
[Rishi shouts] Come on, boys!
Argh, come on!
[narrator] In 1789
the crew of a British navy ship
rose up and overthrew their captain, William Bligh,
in the infamous mutiny on the Bounty.
Bligh and a few loyal men were bundled into a tiny boat
and abandoned in the middle of the Pacific.
They should have died.
[dramatic music]
Instead, they managed to sail 4000 miles to safety...
[male voice] Wave, wave!
[waves crashing]
[narrator] ...through some of the most
unforgiving seas on earth.
[Dan] Big waves. Big, big waves.
[narrator] It remains one of the greatest survival feats
of all time.
[uplifting music]
[narrator] Now... [waves crashing]
...nine men are following the same route,
in an identical boat,
facing the same conditions,
[vomits]
to measure themselves against history.
[Ant] Can the modern-day man endure such hardships?
[all] Woo! [Sam] Ahhh!
[Chris] Come on, lads, bail!
[Rishi] There's nothing normal about being here, nothing.
[Freddy laughs] Yes!
[Rishi shouts] Whoa! No way!
Be careful, be careful, be careful.
[Dan] If we make it through, I think it's a huge triumph.
Oh my God! It's a shark!
[Luke] We return victors.
If we make one mistake...
[Ant] Look, look, look, look! [all in unison] Oh!
...it's utter, utter disaster.
[dramatic music]
[narrator] So far...
the crew have battled fierce tropical storms.
[waves crash]
[male voice] Ohh!
[all] Wave! Wave!
Big wave. Ohh!
[narrator] Their rations have rotted.
Nail varnish.
[Ant] Just bin the rest, mate. People are falling apart.
[narrator] And one of their most experienced sailors
has left the boat.
[Ant] Put your t-shirt and your jumper away now.
I'm raging inside.
I reckon, it's best to go, I don't wanna be here at all.
[Ant] Chris.
[Chris] Something else will happen again
and it's just not right, mate.
[dramatic music]
[narrator] A month into their voyage
the crew have completed 3000
of their epic 4000-mile journey to Timor.
Directly in their path
lies their hardest challenge yet...
the Great Barrier Reef.
Stretching for over 1600 miles
it's the largest reef on the planet.
A vast coral wall lurking just below the sea's surface.
In Bligh's day, it was known as The Labyrinth.
[ominous music]
[male voice] Oh!
[Ant] We need to be on the ball now.
We need to be switched on.
The route is getting quite tricky now.
And we're having to navigate through reefs.
We're having to navigate through small passages.
[Conrad] So, at the moment, we're approximately 70 miles
from where Bligh went through.
[narrator] Using the navigational instruments
available to Bligh
they're aiming for the same small island he landed on.
[Ant] I think, definitely head for this as a reference
and then we can decide closer to the time.
[Conrad] Probably need to steer a course around 275.
[Ant] Yeah, let's do it.
Got that, Rishi? 275 please.
Try and keep that course as well mate, okay?
Try and keep it exactly as we can.
My job as Captain is to get the men there
as quick as possible.
Because... if we... add another 12, 24 hours
that could be a 12 hour or 24-hour period
too long for these guys.
Trying to stay on course...
and, um, I'm really struggling to concentrate now.
My mind's fried.
[Dan] If we make a mistake now
a bit of navigation goes wrong, or anything like that,
we could take ourselves five days, a week out.
We don't have the water for that.
It's all got quite serious.
[seagulls squawking]
[Ant] Look at all these guys.
[Luke] Whoa!
That one was massive.
[Rishi] They're incredible.
They move so well through the air.
[Luke] Are you hungry enough now to eat a seabird?
[narrator] In 1789, Captain Bligh's starving crew
managed to catch a seabird...
as he recorded in his diary from the voyage.
[Captain Bligh reconstruction] I directed the bird
to be killed for supper.
The entrails, beak and feet I divided into shares.
And the blood, I gave to the people
who were the most distressed for want of food.
Every person thought he had feasted.
[Freddy] Here we go. Here we go. Oh my God.
Here we go, here we go, here we go, here we go.
[Conrad] Yay! Oh!
[chuckling] That was cool.
[Freddy] This is the first time
we've ever had something that close to us
that we can touch.
[Luke] Here it comes. [Conrad] Come on, come on.
[Luke] Oh, I touched him. [Freddy] Oh!
We touched. [chuckles]
[Sam] I probably would have dropped the camera
and had a go from there
you know, when he touched your arm.
I reckon I could have got him while he was off balance.
[ominous music]
[narrator] The crew have been surviving
on daily rations of around 400 calories.
Roughly what Bligh's men had to live on.
[Freddy] The amount of food we're eating
it's not sustainable... at all.
Everyone's losing a lot of weight.
I've constantly got stomach pains.
[exhales heavily]
We're in a sort of downward spiral.
[Dan] It's weird. I almost feel like I'm dreaming.
Just the noise of the boat
and everything that goes on around you.
[dramatic tone]
It's almost like it's not really happening.
It's weird.
And I think it's brought on by no food and dehydration...
cabin fever, lack of sleep, all adding up to this kind of...
feeling. [chuckles]
Right now, I probably couldn't tell you my kids' names.
[ominous tone]
[Conrad] I've just seen something.
It could be the start of the reef.
[narrator] Ahead of Ant's exhausted crew
lies a tough test of seamanship.
Okay, hang on a bit, there it is.
[narrator] The Great Barrier Reef.
The crew's only way through
is to find one of the narrow passages in the coral.
A navigational nightmare as daunting today
as it was for Captain Bligh over two centuries ago.
[Sam] Not really ideal sea state to be attempting this, is it?
No.
[Ant] We just have to make sure we get this bang on.
[ominous tone]
[Captain Bligh reconstruction] The person at the helm
heard the sound of breakers...
[waves crashing]
and I no sooner lifted my head than I saw them.
The sea broke furiously over every part.
[Ant] Guys, let's start moving.
Let's start fucking moving now.
This is serious.
This is where I need you to switch on.
You see the white breaks?
If we end up on those, the boat's torn to shreds.
Stay switched on.
It's quite nerve-wracking stuff.
'Cause we've not had to deal with anything like this.
[Conrad] Okay, Ant, we're looking out for another bank,
sandbank, some kind of smooth channels in between.
[Ant] Yeah. [Conrad] Probably around about
12 o'clock off the bow, straight ahead.
[Ant] Yeah, I'll let you know when we've got visual.
Okay.
[suspenseful music]
You can see where the reefs are breaking.
[Ant] We've got a bank, ten o'clock...
and the break seems to have stopped either side of it
and it's here.
Okay, so pretty much into the sun yeah?
It's right there.
[waves breaking] Big swell.
[narrator] The three-meter swell is making it difficult
for the crew to keep the gap in sight.
[Conrad] Fuck, I've got no idea where we are.
[Ant] We're heading towards a rock here now.
We need to turn.
Let's get that halyard down.
We're just being blown onto a reef here.
Quick as we can guys.
[narrator] They've overshot the gap in the reef.
[Ant] Quick, quick, quick guys.
[narrator] To turn back, they need to re-position the sail.
[Dan] Sail untied. [Ant] Alright, up, up, up.
[Conrad] Okay, guys, stand by for a jibe.
[Ant] Yeah, we need to go, let's go.
[Freddy] Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go, go, go.
[Ant] Conrad, the rock's there.
[Conrad] Yeah, I know, I know.
I've lost steerage here.
[narrator] While the sail is down
the boat is impossible to steer.
[Ant] Got big breaks.
[narrator] And the swell is pushing them onto the reef.
Conrad, you look to starboard about two o'clock.
You can see the rock.
[Conrad] Let's get tension on the left.
[Rishi] It's caught on something.
[Ant] Up a bit, up a bit, Rish. Up a bit.
Fuck, we're close to that reef.
[Ant] Bear away five.
More, more!
Hold that.
[Conrad] Fucking hell, this is tight.
[Ant shouts] It's in a good line, good line.
[dramatic crescendo]
Boys, we are going through the Great Barrier Reef
as we speak.
[Freddy] Woo! [Ant] Fucking get in there.
[chuckles]
[triumphant music]
[Ant] Just sailed us through the Great Barrier Reef
- my friend. - It's a lifelong dream.
[Ant] Congratulations.
Well done, Dan.
Master of my rock. Thank you, Sir.
[Conrad] That was fucking tense.
Probably the most difficult bit of navigation I've ever done.
This is how Bligh got through the Barrier Reef.
[Sam] Respect to Bligh.
Yeah, massive respect.
[Captain Bligh reconstruction] Being now happily
within the reefs
and having promised to land
on the first convenient spot we could find
all our past hardships seemed already to be forgotten.
[uplifting music]
[Rishi] The Australian sunset.
I've always wanted to go to Australia.
I didn't think it'd be like this though.
Here you are.
[Rishi] That's the first time on this boat
that I've felt like this crew worked so well together.
Very proud to be part of this team.
[Ant] We just nailed this, mate.
And we're all looking around this boat and thinking...
I'm so glad that I done it with you
you, you, you, you, and you and you.
The chemistry here is perfect.
[ambient music]
[Conrad] It's amazing, isn't it, how calm it is?
[narrator] Now they're safely through the Great Barrier Reef,
Ant's crew can enjoy a brief moment of respite.
[uplifting music]
[Conrad] Can you imagine the relief of Bligh's guys?
'Cause they would have thought that they were...
safe, you know,
even though Bligh obviously had other feelings.
So they would have just generally thought, we're safe.
[loud ship horn blows]
[Rishi] That is mental.
[ominous tone]
I can't help look at that and think, do you know what?
There's a fair bit of food there as well. [laughs]
[loud ship horn blows]
[narrator] When Bligh made this crossing
he saw no other vessels.
But two centuries on...
Ant's crew find themselves in a busy shipping lane.
[Freddy] Do you reckon they can see us? Like a tiny dot?
[Sam chuckles] Wheelchair in the middle of a motorway.
It'd smash the boat into kindling.
[Ant] Yeah. And we'd be shark bait basically.
It's game over for boat and crew.
Guys, I need you to be on the ball now.
[Rishi] Thought I'd be one of the strongest in the crew
but I am starting to get absolutely exhausted.
We do rely on Ant.
We shouldn't rely on him so much.
But... it's been a really tough couple of days actually.
I miss my family and my home.
I live with my twin brother Raj in London.
There you go, done.
I'm a very city man.
I'm not your caveman.
I'm not the fishing guy that goes out
and just eats raw fish and hunting
and all that sort of stuff.
I'm a very modern man.
If I need the plumbing done, I'll get a plumber in.
If I need the electrics done, I'll get an electrician in.
I'm expecting to come back a different person.
[Ant] Get some sleep, get some rest.
Myself, Conrad, we're gonna do two hours on, four hours off...
all the way in to Restoration Island.
[narrator] Bligh reached Australia in 1789
the year after the first British settlers arrived in Botany Bay,
2000 miles to the south.
He feared an attack
by the native people on the mainland.
So Bligh headed for a tiny uninhabited land mass
that he would later christen Restoration Island.
Ant's crew are following the same route.
[suspenseful music]
[Ant] Alright, chaps, wakey-wakey.
[Freddy] If you have a look in front of you
that's Restoration Island.
[Dan] We're here, boys.
First land in a fortnight.
[Dan] Is that a good sight, Lukey?
[Luke] It's a really good sight, it's amazing.
Where's the five-star hotel though? [laughs]
[Rishi] I really hope Restoration
does what it says on the tin.
'Cause we all need it badly. Badly.
[Ant] Alright, guys, we're gonna go on there
make sure we get plenty of rest, make sure we get plenty of food
because we are on the bones of our arse.
I'm even on the bones of my arse
and I'm tired just even talking.
Right, let's get the oars ready, let's go.
One!
Two!
[narrator] Bligh approached the new land cautiously
after one of his crew had been killed on a previous island.
[Ant] Oars out the water.
[Captain Bligh reconstruction] On the northwest side
I found a bay and a fine sandy point to land
and examined if there were any signs of natives.
But I saw nothing to alarm me.
[Sam] Ant. - Yeah.
[Sam] There's a fella coming.
[Ant] Hello there, my good man.
[Dave] God. [Ant] I'm the Captain
of the Bounty's End.
[Dave] The Captain? [Ant] Yes.
- And what's your name, sorry? - Dave.
[Ant] Dave, I'm Anthony.
[Dave] So where did you blokes come from?
[Ant] Vanuatu. - What?
[Ant] Yes, we just come from Vanuatu...
- In this bloody thing? [Ant] Yeah, in this thing.
Shit.
So what's that, gunpowder or something? What's that?
[Ant] No, they're water.
They're empty barrels of water, I have you know.
We're not here to cause any trouble
we're here just to get some food.
[Dave] Alright. [Ant] Some water and replenish
and then we'll be out of your hair.
[Luke] Ah! Land.
[Dave chuckles] You young crazy heroes.
[narrator] Seventy-two-year-old Dave Glasheen
and his pet dingo, Polly,
are Restoration Island's sole inhabitants.
[Dave] Got any fishing gear? [Ant] Yeah, we have.
He's like the Australian beach bum Santa Claus.
[Dave] You're welcome to camp somewhere.
Here's not a bad spot in here.
[narrator] Dave traded the city for a simpler life
after losing millions in the stock market crash.
[Dave] This is the water and this is it.
But I won't get any rainwater
of any consequence before next year.
Water's the gold of the wild, you know.
We will use this sparingly.
[narrator] When Bligh's crew were here
they filled several barrels of water from a well they'd dug
and made a desperate search for food.
[Luke] We're pretty hungry.
You're not eating each other yet?
[Ant] Been munching on ship's biscuits now
for the last 35 days.
There's rocks and there's saltwater.
There should be oysters, you know.
This is probably where Bligh would have come, I reckon.
[ambient music]
[Captain Bligh reconstruction] Everyone was anxious to find
something to eat.
I sent out parties that returned highly rejoiced
in having found plenty of oysters.
[Rishi] Wow.
[Dave] He was here in May
and the south-easters are quite strong.
[Luke] Yeah. [Dave] So this would be
the protected side and it'll be a lot easier here.
[Luke] So weird to think that he was right here.
[Rishi] That's an oyster, isn't it?
[Dave] That's good one.
I've never done this before, why would I...
where would you do this in London.
[Luke] Come on, Rish, you've never had one right?
[Rishi] My virgin oyster.
First time sailing,
first time survival, first oyster.
Oh!
That's fresh.
Being on these rocks
doing exactly the same thing as Bligh: pretty special.
I feel like a part of history.
[Ant] Wow.
[Dave] So you're not gonna starve tonight, fellas.
- Well done, Rish. Well done. - Yeah, it's good that, innit?
[Ant] Rish is doing really well
'cause he is learning, he's taking everything on board.
But... I need him to be like that when we're low.
When times are bad, when we're going through a bad patch.
That's when I need Rishi to step up.
[narrator] The oysters Bligh's crew found here
saved them from starvation.
But there's one man they're not going to help this time.
[Freddy] I'm allergic to oysters.
[Rishi] Fred, you can't eat that, can you?
[Freddy] No, I can't eat that, no.
[Rishi] Fuck.
[Freddy] It's just doing my head in.
It's so demoralizing
the fact that I can't eat when everybody else is eating.
And I'm not gonna complain in front of them
'cause, it's not good for morale.
[chuckles]
[sighs heavily]
[ambient music]
[Luke] Mm, those oysters are good.
[Ant] Bon appétit.
[Sam] And how nice is it to sit on something
that's not fucking wood?
[male voice] Oh, yeah. [laughs]
[Luke] It's the first hot food we've had in about 17 days.
[Sam] I'll never, ever, take hot food for granted again.
It's really nice to eat a proper meal.
[Freddy sighs] It's just messing me up this.
I hate it.
[Luke] "Friday, May 29th.
The oysters we found grew so fast with the rocks
that it was with difficulty they could be broke off."
That's true isn't it? [crew laughs]
[Luke] "They were very sizeable
and well tasted and gave us great release."
[Ant] Was that's true as well? [Luke] That was, yeah.
[crew laughs]
[Luke] "This being the day of the Restoration
of King Charles II
and the name not being inexplicable
to our present situation
for we were restored to fresh life and strength.
I name this Restoration Island."
[Dan] I find that just the spookiest,
spookiest thing hearing that.
[Ant] To the proper, proper Mutiny crew.
[all together] Yes!
[ambient music]
[narrator] The crew is up early
trying to find their next meal.
[Dan] Guys, we need to go that way.
[Freddy] This way? [Dan] Roger.
If you feel the take, don't yank straightaway.
About two or three seconds into the run, that's when you strike.
[gentle piano]
[Luke] No fish?
[Dan] No bites?
[Rishi] Come on, I really wanna get one.
[Freddy] All I want to do is eat, I'm so hungry.
But I can't eat oysters.
I can eat fish, but we never really catch any fish.
[Ant] What's down there?
It's always good to forage.
[narrator] Across the island...
[Ant] Aha.
[narrator] ...Ant's having a little more success.
[Ant] Oh, look at that. Cassava.
It's like a potato really.
Even if we just get this in us tonight
that will suffice.
[Rishi] I have to catch something.
[water splashes] [Dan] Fucking what is this?
[suspenseful music]
This is fucking big, boys.
Fucking monstrous, mate.
[shouts] Oh my God, it's a Blacktip Shark.
Whoa! Mate.
[groaning] That is so powerful!
[Luke] Fucking hell.
[Rishi screams] Whoa-oh! Oh my God. Oh my God.
Fucking hell. It nearly bit my fucking leg off.
[Rishi] Oh my God! [Dan] Mate, it's not that big.
[laughs]
Oh mate, mate, careful, careful, careful, careful.
He nearly got my leg. He went for my leg.
[Freddy] What's happening?
[Dan] We've got a shark. [Rishi] Got a shark.
[Freddy] Ha-ha! - Steaks tonight baby.
[Freddy] Ha-ha-ha! Yes!
[Dan] Yes!
Yeah!
[Dan] You little beauty. We're gonna eat tonight, man.
[Luke] Oh, yeah!
[Dan] Yeah! [Rishi] Whoa!
[Dan] Tonight, we dine like kings.
- Yeah! [Dan] Whoa-ho!
I feel so proud of them.
Looking back to day one, they're like different guys.
Being able to survive off the land
being able to survive off sea.
They're like my brothers, you know, I've got to...
I've gotta get 'em to the end of this.
[Luke] He's an ex-Special Forces sort of tough guy.
I'm like a gay doctor from London.
Those paths do not cross very often.
So I have to say, I was a little bit apprehensive
of that macho nature.
But he's incredibly sensitive to the emotions in the group
and he's knowledgeable.
You know, sort of survival tips.
I don't think we could have done this without him.
[Ant] You alright, Dave? [Dave] I'm alright.
What you got?
A little surprise.
[Ant] Oh, a little bit of oil.
D'you know what? We could make chips with this.
You know, with the cassava that we got
we could have fish and chips.
Oh, thank you so much, Dave. Thank you.
[Dave] Bon appétit.
[Freddy] Oh, it smells great.
I'm looking forward to that so much.
If someone had told you at the beginning this journey
that you would have fish and chips, would you believe him?
[Luke] Freddy, guess what I've got?
I've got some vinegar in the medical kit.
[Freddy laughs]
[Ant] Oh, my God, my mouth is watering.
This is the Mutiny feast.
Look at that, look, look.
The skin fat on it is just going mad.
It looks amazing.
[Ant] We're not gonna beat this.
[Dan] Preparing us for the next leg, right?
[Ant] Preparing us for life.
I'm seeing people develop, I'm seeing people progress...
No, that's sweet.
[Ant] And it's really rewarding.
See if we can keep this momentum going.
If we can, then I'll be a very happy man.
[thudding]
[Ant] Oh! [metallic thud]
- You alright? [Ant] Shit, I've cut my foot.
[Freddy] Luke. [Luke] Is it bad?
[Ant] Yeah, pretty bad.
[Freddy] Yeah, okay.
[Ant] Bastard.
[Sam] What happened? [Ant] It's the axe.
[Rishi] Oh, the axe. [Sam] Oh, fuck, man.
[Ant] Yeah.
[Luke] Can you wiggle all your toes?
[Ant] Yeah.
[narrator] If his foot becomes infected
Ant may have to leave.
Just like that, silly bugger.
[Luke] There can be lots of complications.
Tropical infections can get really nasty very quickly.
Gotta be so careful.
[Ant] Only takes a split second for something to go wrong.
This gets infected it's game over, it's the end.
[gentle music]
[Ant] It's our last day on Restoration Island.
Had a bit of a drama before, cut my foot open.
I knew straightaway I needed stitches.
But, four stitches, bang and it was done.
We've got to put that aside and we've still got a job to do.
[Rishi] Whoa, whoa! Sam, that bung's come out.
[Sam] Shit.
[Dave] Don't lose the precious water.
[Sam] Good spot, Rish.
[narrator] After three days on Restoration Island
Ant and his crew are ready to face the perils
of their final sea crossing.
[Ant] Thank you so much. Thanks for having us, man.
[Dave] You're all restored.
A safe journey.
It's been wonderful having you and you're all incredible men.
[Ant] Right, come on then, men, let's get on the boat.
One, two, three.
[narrator] These tropical waters
are teeming with bacteria.
An infected cut could spell disaster for Ant.
In Bligh's day, infected limbs were amputated quickly
to prevent death from septicaemia.
[Ant] The Captain is dry.
- Thanks, guys. [Dan] No worries.
[Ant] Bye, Dave. [Luke] Thank you!
[Dan] See you later, Restoration Island.
[Conrad] Hoist the main.
[uplifting music]
[narrator] When Bligh and his men left Restoration Island
They were still very weak, after over a month at sea.
Yet, they would need to negotiate
a maze of reefs and islands
to reach the nearest safe port: 1400 Miles away at Timor.
Ant will follow in Bligh's wake
braving northern Australia's searing heat
and seas infested with saltwater crocodiles,
sea snakes, and sharks.
[Conrad] So be on starboard tack initially, guys
with the starboard side, right?
[Freddy] Yeah, okay, once we get around the corner we can...
[Ant] Look, look, look, look, look, look.
[loud thud] [all] Whoa-ho-ho!
[Dan] What the fuck was that?
[Conrad] That was a big shark.
[Ant] See these two islands here?
We're going straight through the middle of 'em.
[Luke] So this is a reading from Bligh's journal
about going through exactly this spot.
"As I was passing this straight
we saw a large party of Indians running towards us...
[Captain Bligh reconstruction] ...shouting and making signs
to land.
Some of them waved green branches
as a sign of friendship.
But there were some of their other motions less friendly.
I therefore determined not to land."
[Ant] I know what I'd do, I'd just go straight past it.
[Luke] Yeah. [Ant] They had no firearms.
Yeah, there's no way I'd stop.
[Luke] They literally would have been right there,
- wouldn't they? [Ant] Mm.
[Sam] This leg of the voyage
I feel more sort of connected to Bligh's story
than any other bits so far.
Now, I mean, it's really starting to come alive.
[ambient music]
[narrator] After only a day's sailing from Restoration Island
Bligh surprised his crew
by stopping on a barren outcrop of rock.
[Captain Bligh reconstruction] An island of good height
now bore to the northwest from us.
The shore was rocky.
The water, however, was smooth...
and I landed without difficulty.
I named this... Sunday Island.
[Rishi] Why have we stopped here?
[narrator] Bligh's crew were frustrated
to have this break in their journey.
[Ant] Dan. [Dan] Yeah.
[Ant] Come with me to this high ground, have a look over.
[narrator] Ant's keen to explore
what drove their captain to such a bleak outpost.
There's nothing here... absolutely diddly-squat.
Why would he wanna stop here for?
[Dan] I don't know.
It's pretty barren, isn't it?
[Dan] Something was going on.
[heavy drum beat]
[narrator] Rish has been told to set up camp for the night.
[Rishi] I see absolutely no point in being here.
We're wasting time.
You know, we've got a mission to get somewhere.
Let's carry on going.
[narrator] Bligh's decision to spend a night on Sunday Island
also led to discontent.
[Captain Bligh reconstruction] Their fatigue
got the better of their sense of duty.
Some of them claimed, they would rather be without dinner
than go in search of it.
One person went so far as to tell me, with a mutinous look
he was as good a man as myself.
I therefore determined to preserve my command
or die in the attempt.
And seizing a cutlass, I ordered him to defend himself...
on which he began to make concessions.
Just thinking why Bligh would come here and I think that
it had to do with discovery.
He was an explorer.
He thought to himself, "Well that's not chartered."
And he wanted to put his flag in it.
I've discovered this location.
And then his men were so pissed off
that he literally took 'em to an island
where there was nothing... so his men pulled him on it.
Boom, he got his cutlass out.
[Luke] I don't think Ant's gonna pull
a cutlass on me tonight.
But it is a little bit like Bligh is kind of haunting us.
It kind of gives me chills.
I really didn't expect
to have such a similar experience to them.
[ominous tone]
[narrator] It's 8 a.m.
and already the crew are wilting in the heat.
[Freddy] Fuck.
[narrator] They want to get moving.
But to escape the bay, they have to wait for high tide.
[male voice] All done.
People are coming down like sort of dominoes with diarrhoea.
- Phew! [Dan] Go and have a dump mate.
Yeah.
There's a real chance that it can lead to sort of
serious dehydration in these conditions.
[Luke] You know, the blazing Australian sun
and that can be really dangerous.
Fuck, this is hot.
[Conrad] I feel really light-headed.
[Freddy] Fuck.
Can physically and mentally feel my body shutting down.
[Ant] You look drained, mate, absolutely drained.
[Rishi] I am, yeah.
[Ant] Rish is really, really down at the moment.
He wants to go home.
Fred. Fred's weak, we're all weak.
We're all starting to lose it a bit.
I am feeling it just as much as the men.
But I have to not show that.
I have to step up as a leader.
[narrator] Finally, the tide rises.
[ambient music]
Ant and his crew are able to leave.
[Ant] Right, ready? Oars back.
One. Nice and easy, guys. Two.
How you feeling?
So much better on board the boat.
On that island, that was the first time
I genuinely considered leaving.
I think, as well, a severe case of dehydration was kicking in.
- Yeah, definitely. [Ant] We all had the shits.
[Conrad] Just check that 50-litre barrel.
[Ant] You wanna taste it, Luke?
[Sam] What's up with the water?
[Luke] Smells bad. [Ant] Really?
[Luke] Yeah. It's getting that sulphurous smell.
[Sam] It probably rotted in the barrels.
Fucking horrible.
Out of nowhere, all of a sudden,
I just feel really sick.
I've just finished a glass of water
so I'm convinced that the water's gone off.
[Ant] That's why we've got diarrhoea, I think.
[Luke] We should stop drinking it.
[narrator] The crew need to find
clean drinking water, urgently.
[Ant] It's not looking good.
so we'll be prioritizing getting water.
How we looking, Conrad? Where we heading?
[Conrad] Turtle Head and Albany.
That's probably our best chance.
[Ant] Alright guys, we're gonna be stopping
to prioritize water.
So we've just made this decision now.
Everyone happy with that?
[crew] Yeah.
[narrator] Ant sets a course for the nearest large island.
But for now
the crew must survive on milk from the few remaining coconuts.
[Luke] Careful, Rish.
Don't want you to chop your finger off.
[Dan] That's fucking dangerous mate.
[Sam] Dude, dude, dude, dude. [Luke] Rish.
[Sam] Don't fucking cut machete with me here.
[Luke] Alright and also don't... - Rish, mate.
[Luke] Don't cut it like that. [Rishi] Why?
[Luke] 'Cause it can go through to your hand.
Rish, it's not fucking safe on land
you're not fucking safe on a boat.
Well how the fuck am I gonna do this then?
Just look where my fucking legs are.
[Luke, Sam and Freddy in unison] Whoa!
[Dan] No! [Rishi] Shit!
[Dan] He lost all his fucking coconut water.
[Rishi] Oh, fucking hell.
[ominous tone]
[Ant] Rish is in a really bad place.
Physically he's not getting about.
I think that he's got literally a couple of days left in him
if I'm being honest.
[gentle music]
[narrator] Forty days after being set adrift
the tired and thirsty crew have made it to Albany island.
[Conrad] Look at the colour of that sand.
[Dan] Pure white.
[narrator] But dry land does not guarantee safety.
[Dan] Look at these mangroves.
[Freddy] You know what that means though? Crocs.
[Ant] Guys, there's things there that wanna get us.
We've got sharks.
we've got crocodiles.
On the island there's snakes, there's spiders,
there's scorpions.
[narrator] The priority is to find a water source
somewhere in this inhospitable landscape.
[ominous tone]
[Conrad] Big spider. Whoa! Fucking hell.
[Freddy] Oh.
[Dan] They're Orbs. If you hit the bush, they'll come for you.
Fuck sake, Dan, why are you telling me this?
[Dan chuckling] No, seriously, they will.
[Freddy] Conrad, after you.
[Conrad] Fucking hell.
[Dan] How are you with spiders, Conrad?
[Conrad] Terrified. Give me a boat anytime.
[Dan] Oh, spider.
[Conrad] Whoa! [Dan] What?
[Conrad] Bastard.
[Dan] Did he get you? [Conrad] Argh, you bastard.
[Dan] They're everywhere.
There's just absolutely no sign of water, mate.
Nothing. It's arid, desolate, dry, horrible.
[narrator] Having failed to find water...
when the sun sets...
there are other dangers.
[Ant] This is croc territory.
Night time routine, this is where we need to be on it, guys.
There will be a fire in a centralized location
where we'll be sleeping
and we'll have a watch keeping an eye out for predators.
[ominous tone]
[Dan quietly] So I'm on croc watch.
Don't know exactly what I would do if a croc popped its head out
of one of these bushes.
[Rishi] Fuck! Argh!
What the fuck is going on here?
[dramatic tone]
I just got bit by something.
If that's a spider, it could be bad news.
Oh fuck.
[Sam] What is it?
[Rishi] Big centipede.
[Sam] Ooh, nasty.
[Rishi] Oh my God, that was so painful.
[narrator] Thankfully, this species of centipede
is not deadly.
[Sam] Say goodnight.
[metal tings]
[ambient tone]
[narrator] The next morning
there is only one thing on Ant's mind.
[Ant] Right, listen in, gents. Water... priority.
Okay? I know you're hanging, but this is where it counts.
Right, let's get cracking, guys.
[Conrad] Let's try along here.
And I've got no idea about searching for water
but it just looked lush and green down in the corner here.
[narrator] The crew split up
so they can search the entire island.
The signs do not look good.
[Dan] It is... dry.
It's arid.
[Dan] Not seeing any water run offs.
[ominous tone]
[Conrad] There's so much green. Where's it getting its water?
[narrator] Under the glare of the midday sun...
the crew return to camp.
[Dan] Let's go back.
[Ant] How did you get on, Dan?
[Dan] Shit.
[Sam] I think I've done about half the island
but fuck all water, dry as a bone.
[narrator] They haven't drunk any fresh water
for over 24 hours.
[Freddy] Very, very light-headed.
I keep on forgetting what I'm meaning doing.
Um... what I'm gonna be doing.
What I'm meant to be doing, rather.
[Rishi] You look terrible, Fred.
[Freddy] I feel terrible.
Literally just had to stop myself from being sick.
[Rishi] I can't handle this.
This is the worst possible scenario.
[Dan whispers] They are pathetic.
Rish is fucking hopeless.
[chuckles]
Did you film me saying that?
[solemn music]
[narrator] The crew can't leave the island
until they find enough fresh water
to see them through the next leg of their journey.
[Ant] To get us home, I need everyone to be on the ball.
I can't get everyone home by myself, I can't do it.
I need Fred to pull his fucking finger out
and I need Rish to fucking snap out
of whatever fucking thing that he's in.
[Rishi] This is shit.
[Ant] And if he doesn't, I'll make him snap out of it
when we get on that boat.
[Rishi] I'm done. I'm ready to fucking go home.
[narrator] In a last ditch attempt to find water
the crew search the shoreline.
[Conrad] Let's try another approach.
[Dan] We've been all over the island now
we've had a look for water, can't find it anywhere.
If we don't find any here, that's it.
[solemn music]
[Sam] We're in an incredibly hot
dry, arid part of the world.
Nothing will kill us faster than lack of water.
[Conrad] There's something there.
[Ant shouts] Conrad! [Conrad] Yeah, down here.
[Dan] Found something?
Oh, what have you found?
Guys, we've got water here.
[male voice] Oh! Mate! [chuckles]
[Conrad] It tastes pretty good, it's rainwater.
[Ant] Conrad, well done.
Right, let's get crack-a-lacking guys.
[narrator] With this lifeline secured...
[uplifting music]
the crew can now ready themselves
for the final crossing.
[Ant] I'm going into this last leg
with the seriousness that any one of my men...
could lose their lives.
It's that serious.
We're sailing 1200 odd miles to Timor.
Dangerous. With the mindset of these men, it's dangerous.
[narrator] Next time...
[dramatic music]
[Dan] Goodbye, Albany.
[narrator] ...they set sail on their final leg to Timor.
[Conrad] Fast as we can. Fast as we can.
[narrator] But when the wind drops, Ant faces a mutiny.
If you think Conrad should step up as Captain
put your hand up.
[narrator] And the crew are on the brink of collapse.
[medic] You cannot go on, potentials can be catastrophic.
Your kidneys will be fucked, your livers will be fucked.
[Ant] Our bodies are in shutdown mode.