Quote from Alex bobby on March 15, 2025, 7:14 AM

The Remarkable Survival Story of Maurice and Maralyn Bailey

Few survival stories are as extraordinary as that of Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, a couple from Derby, England, who endured 118 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean. Their tale of resilience, resourcefulness, and sheer willpower continues to captivate audiences, especially after a recent book about their ordeal won the prestigious Gold Prize at the Nero Book Awards.

A Dream Voyage Turned Disaster

In 1966, Maralyn, who worked in a tax office, suggested to her husband, Maurice, that they sell their home in Allestree and purchase a boat to live aboard. The couple, both raised in Normanton, embraced this adventurous idea wholeheartedly. They acquired a 31-foot yacht named Auralyn and set sail from Southampton on June 28, 1972, heading for New Zealand. At the time, Maralyn was 31 and Maurice was 39.

Their journey was one of excitement and discovery. Maralyn kept in touch with her family, sending postcards regularly. In one, she reassured her sister, Pat Brewin, that they would be out of contact for a while as they crossed the Galapagos Islands.

Tragedy Strikes

On March 4, 1973, just six days after departing Panama for the Galapagos Islands, disaster struck. A whale collided with their boat, causing it to sink approximately 250 miles from their destination. The couple was forced to abandon Auralyn and take refuge in a small 9-foot dinghy and a rubber life raft, tied together to keep them afloat.

118 Days of Survival

With minimal supplies, Maurice and Maralyn had to rely on their ingenuity to survive. They fashioned fishing hooks from safety pins to catch fish, small sharks, seabirds, and even turtles. Rainwater became their primary source of hydration, collected painstakingly whenever a downpour occurred.

Their situation was dire, and the psychological toll was immense. Seven ships passed them without noticing their desperate signals for help. Maurice later wrote that some vessels were within half a mile of them, but none saw or heard their distress signals.

Despite the overwhelming odds, Maralyn remained steadfast. Though she could not swim, her unwavering determination kept them going. According to Pat, "I think Maurice gave up. She was the strong one, definitely."

Maralyn's resilience was evident in the smallest details. She carefully preserved her fingernails, and she and Maurice developed unique survival rituals. They even called the fish eyes they saved "Smarties," knowing they contained vital nutrients that helped prevent scurvy.

The couple endured waist-deep water, relentless sun exposure, and terrifying encounters with marine life. On one particularly harrowing night, Maralyn peered through a small hole in the raft to see a pair of eyes staring back at her. It was a massive whale. "She just sat there thinking, 'this is the end, one flip and we're gone,'" Pat recalled. Fortunately, the whale eventually moved away, leaving them unharmed.

The Rescue

After drifting more than 1,500 miles in a generally northwest direction, Maurice and Maralyn were finally rescued by a Korean fishing boat. Weak and emaciated, they could barely move. At first, they were only able to consume milk, followed by eggs, soup, and butter as their bodies adjusted to food again.

Their rescuers took them to Honolulu, where they received medical treatment and were met with intense media attention. Journalist Ivor Davies, who covered their arrival for the Daily Express, described their appearance as "like they had just come out of a concentration camp. They were emaciated and hardly able to walk."

The Aftermath

Maurice later reflected on their survival, giving full credit to his wife. "I have always put the credit down to Maralyn that she saved me. I wouldn’t have survived at all on my own, or if she was relying on me to save her, she wouldn’t have had a very good outcome," he said. "She was the guiding light in everything we did."

The couple documented their incredible ordeal in their book, 117 Days Adrift, first published in 1974. Their story remains a testament to human endurance and the power of hope in the face of unimaginable adversity.

A Legacy Remembered

Though both Maurice and Maralyn have since passed away, their story continues to inspire. Earlier this year, Maurice and Maralyn: An Extraordinary True Story of Shipwreck, Survival, and Love by Sophie Elmhirst won the £30,000 Gold Prize at the Nero Book Awards, bringing renewed attention to their remarkable journey.

Reflecting on her sister’s strength, Pat said, "I don't know how she did survive, I really don't." But survive she did, proving that even in the direst circumstances, the human spirit can prevail.

A Testament to Human Resilience

Maurice and Maralyn Bailey’s survival story is a powerful reminder of the strength, determination, and ingenuity that humans can summon in the face of unimaginable hardship. Their 118-day ordeal at sea, filled with danger and uncertainty, serves as both an inspiration and a lesson in perseverance. Maralyn’s unwavering resolve and resourcefulness kept them alive, proving that hope and courage can overcome even the harshest odds. Their legacy, now immortalized in books and media, ensures that their extraordinary tale of survival and love will never be forgotten.