When Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith) and his father, Cypher (Will Smith), crash land on the long abandoned planet earth, Kitai must battle unknown foes if he and his father hope to live to see another day. So to celebrate the release of what we know will be an action-filled tale of resilience and will in AFTER EARTH (in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from 7th June), we have compiled our favourite real-life survival tales.
Paul Templar and the bull hippo (that’s right, a bull hippo!)
After serving in the British Army, Paul Templar decided to settle down in his home country of Zimbabwe. Working as a river guide, a routine tour resulted in one of the most dangerous African animals launching an attack in the boat he and a group of tourists were in. After jumping into the water to save his fellow guide, the hippo set its sights on him, swallowing his entire head, pinning his arms to his sides, and dragging him into the water. Somehow Templar managed to escape but that bull was not done yet, launching one final attack on the helpless man, severing his arm (which was later amputated), tearing his foot, and breaking a whole host of bones in his body. It really is a miracle then that, not only did Templar survive the attack, but he now leads safari trips!!
Juliane Koepcke
In 1971 when LANSA flight 508 crashed, taking 93 passengers and crew with it, only 17 year-old Juliane Koepcke survived. After the plane was struck by lightning, Juliane was thrown from the ill-fated plane, still strapped to her seat. After coming to, she walked through the Peruvian rainforest for nine days before finally finding a cabin in which she could rest and get help. Eventually, a battered Juliane was reunited with her father and finished her studies to build a successful life as a zoologist!
Aron Ralston
A hike in the canyonlands of the American west sounds pretty darn magical to not just those who love the outdoors but to all who can appreciate just how beautiful planet earth can be. So who could really blame 35 year-old, Aron Ralston for embarking on a hike that would change his life forever? It all seemed to go to plan until Ralston climbed down a narrow opening in Bluejohn canyon when a boulder became dislodged, trapping his right arm. Ralston spent 5 days stuck between a (giant) rock and a hard place trying to free his arm before he took the only option he had left and proceeded to amputate his own arm using a blunt knife he had in his kit. We shudder to think about what that must have been like). Ralston’s story is so incredible that it was even made into the Hollywood movie, 127 Hours, starring James Franco.
Jet Li
Speaking of films, when film star Jet Li visited the Maldives in 2004 on a family holiday, it would be a trip that would change Li’s life course completely. When the 2004 tsunami hit the Indian Ocean Li was just one of 5 million people affected by the disaster. The actor had been about to take his two young daughters into the sea for a swim when he noticed the water level rising at an alarming speed. By the time he and the children’s nanny had gotten back to the hotel the water level had risen to his waist, forcing Li to put one of his terrified children onto his shoulders to keep her safe but lost grip on the nanny who had his other daughter. Four bystanders managed to grab both of them before they were swept away by the violent waves of water that continued to batter anything and everything in its path.
Today, much affected by the events of 26th December 2004, Li dedicates his time to humanitarian work, helping those affected by natural disasters.
Joe Simpson
When Joe Simpson broke his leg scaling the Suila Grande mountain in the Peruvian Andes, they were left with a problem: how to get Joe and his now useless leg back home. When a blizzard hit, Simon fastened himself to a rock and lowered Joe down the majority of the mountain but when Joe slipped down into an overhanging ice rack, almost taking Simon with him, Simon faced an agonising decision. Not knowing whether his friend was alive or dead and with no way of finding out, Simon eventually cut the rope that kept the two joined. Joe sustained serious injuries from the fall but was otherwise alive, managing to regain consciousness and somehow drag himself back to the camp in time to find his friends before they left. Now if that isn’t luck we don’t know what is!
Wensaslao Moguel
When Wensaslao Moguel was captured whilst fighting during the Mexican Revolution, he was sentenced to death by firing squad without a trial. Moguel was then shot 9 times by the firing squad which included a shot he received to the head by an officer at close range to ensure death. Miraculously, Moguel managed to escape after feigning death and went on to live a full life. Forget miraculous, that is straight up magic!
Catch Will and Jaden Smith pull off their own survival tale when AFTER EARTH hits cinemas on 7th June!
