Australian adventurer Andrew McAuley had long been preparing for his trip across the Tasman Sea, a dangerous stretch of water between Australia and New Zealand. Determined to become the first solo kayaker to make the 1,000-mile journey, he didn't let his first failed attempt stop him from pursuing his goal. And on January 11, 2007, the 38-year-old felt ready to try again. Recording his trip as he went, McAuley's enthusiasm waned as the days passed, and he grew tired, but his determination did not fade. "When I get older, I'll look back and I'll be stoked. I'll be stoked, stoked, stoked that I did it but... it's hard. It's hard going," he said in one video. But then, on February 9, 2007, the New Zealand Coast Guard received a call from McAuley that was obscured by static. They couldn't make out the message, but they figured it was one of the regular check-ins he'd made during the trip. It wasn't until later, when McAuley didn't arrive in New Zealand as planned, that the message was deciphered: "Do you copy? This is kayak one. Do you copy, over? I've got an emergency situation. I'm in a kayak about 30 km from Milford Sound. I need a rescue. My kayak's sinking. Fell off into the sea and I'm going down."
@fasc1nate “1999 before the screens took over” Notice anything else?
@GandhiAOC @fasc1nate How does this have anything to do with the kayaker?
@ProfitProphet9 @GandhiAOC @fasc1nate 😂 This is how all of the posts are. Stay focused or you’ll get sucked into several story threads. It is SO bizarre. Whoever is trying to hijack the thread - did you know you can get your very own? No need to hijack this one. We can see you!