A survival story is just what is needed at this time of year.
It makes us realise how precious and precarious life can be and instills gratitude and appreciation for what life provides in those who survived or are touched by the near-death experience.
Former NFL fullback Rob Konrad experienced 16 harrowing hours in the ocean after falling off his fishing boat and lived to tell the tale.
His decision to try to swim for the shore doing a combination of breaststroke and backstroke has been attributed to his athleticism and mental toughness developed through years of playing in the NFL.
The irony of his former status as a Miami Dolphin is not lost on anyone.
But is athleticism as a result of elite sport participation really the difference between perishing or surviving when lost at sea?
Being fit and strong is not necessarily a ticket to survival.
In 2009 four NFL players went on a fishing excursion and after accidentally capsizing the boat, Marquis Cooper, Corey Smith, Will Bleakley and Nick Schuler were thrown into the rough waters of the Gulf Coast near Clearwater, Florida and tried desperately to cling to the upturned vessel overnight.
Many could not believe that Cooper, Smith and Bleakley, young fit men in their 20s, eventually took off their life jackets and drifted out to sea or tried to swim for help, never to be seen again.
The sole survivor, Nick Schuler was found clinging to the overturned boat three days later and has since published a book about the experience.
It has received a combination of criticism and praise from the family members of those who have never been found at sea.
A report of the incident concluded that after struggling to remain on top of the capsized hull of the boat, Cooper and Smith became non-responsive, a characteristic of hypothermia, and separated from the vessel after taking their life jackets off.
Eventually Bleakley also became non-responsive and separated from the boat 24 hours later and less than six hours before Schuler was rescued.
Was Schuler physically and mentally tougher than his friends who fell victim to hypothermia and the elements or was there a bit of luck involved?
Perhaps it was a combination of all of the above?
We'd have to read the book and accept Schuler's account of what happened to find out.
What is known is that those who live to tell survival stories tend to talk about faith, hope, luck and the strong will to live.
Another Rob, Rob Hewitt, who found himself adrift at sea in 2006 for a staggering 75 hours, inspires others by sharing life lessons he learnt during that 75 hours and years after that we can adopt.
These lessons include keeping short-term goals, having something bigger than yourself to have faith in (a higher being, ancestors, the spiritual realm), focusing on loved ones and reasons for living, fighting to mentally cling not only to whatever flotation device can be found but also hope, overcoming disappointment, not getting overwhelmed with fear, and last but not least having lady luck on your side.
It is those characteristics and attributes that we hope our children learn through sport, but it is difficult to know how anyone will behave in a crisis situation.
Although intense, sport for the most part is not a near-death experience.
Many of us will never know how we will act when sitting on top of an upturned boat in rough waters, or when surrounded by nothing but the deep, vast ocean.
Knowing the basics of how to survive at sea, wearing a life jacket, and keeping afloat are probably more likely to keep you alive if lost at sea than how strong, fit or athletic you are.
Fortunately for Rob Konrad, his decision to swim to shore and battle the elements for 16 hours paid off and, a few days later ,he and his family are relieved and grateful that he is still around to share the inspiration, hope, and gratitude with others.
- Due to a technical issue the Farah Palmer column did not run yesterday. It will return to its usual Thursday spot next week.
