Teen survives 49 days lost at sea in a wooden boat after drifting 1,200 miles
Published on Oct 13, 2025 at 7:36 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Oct 14, 2025 at 9:19 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
This brave teen survived 49 days lost at sea in a wooden boat after drifting 1,200 miles, and he was only 19 years old.
Imagine being stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with no food, no fresh water, and nothing but your wits to keep you alive.
That’s exactly what happened to Aldi Novel Adilang, a teenager from Indonesia who spent over a month and a half adrift at sea before being rescued.
He was meant to be working on a small wooden floating fishing hut anchored miles off the coast of Indonesia, but when strong winds snapped its mooring rope, he became lost at sea.
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How he survived 49 days lost at sea in a wooden boat
Aldi was working on a rompong, a small wooden floating fishing hut.
On July 14, 2018, strong winds snapped its mooring rope, sending it and him drifting towards Guam.
Supplies ran out in just a few days, so Aldi had to get creative by fishing daily to eat, and drinking seawater filtered through his t-shirt.
He even had to burn wood from his hut to cook and signal for help, and he compared the experience to a real-life version of Life of Pi.
He was rescued after drifting 1,200 miles
More than ten ships in total passed him by, without noticing his desperate waves for help, Aldi nearly gave up all hope completely, but he found strength in daily prayers and the Bible he kept on board.
On the 49th day, Aldi spotted a massive tanker, the MV Arpeggio, and managed to radio a simple cry for help.
His heart sank when the tanker first sailed past, but then it turned around.
He battled huge waves when he swam towards the crew, who finally pulled him to safety.
After a stop in Japan for medical care, Aldi was flown back to Indonesia, and although he had worked on the sea hut for three years, he vowed never to return.
His employer admitted this wasn’t the first time the rompong had broken free, sparking calls for better safety gear like GPS and radios for young fishers who spend their lifestyle at sea.
Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
