U3A Helderberg’s September guest speaker, on Wednesday September 4, is Brett Archibald, who will share his astounding experience of surviving almost 30 hours in the ocean after falling overboard.
Brett matriculated at Westville Boys’ High and went on to study at Natal University and UNISA. He completed five years of articles at Ernst and Young and went on to become a director at RCI Southern Africa before moving to London as managing director for Group RCI EMEAI.
His incredible focus, belief, determination and will to survive, together with those who saved him, form the backbone of his story, that began when he went on a surfing trip to Indonesia with a group of childhood friends.
“Miracle at sea” is the story of Brett‘s survival at sea against all odds, and his audience is transported with him into the horror of the 28½ hours during which he had to draw on every ounce of self-belief, will to survive and the application of life principles that ensured he lived to tell of his rescue.
Brett will relive the moment he thought his life was over. At 2.30am local time, on April 17, 2013, in the middle of a storm in the Indian Ocean, Brett had fallen overboard after passing out on the top deck of a hired boat off the coast of Indonesia.
He was on a surfing holiday with nine friends, but had fallen ill from food poisoning during a 10-hour journey along a stretch of water known as the Mentawai Strait in Indonesia’s West Sumatra province. He had gone to the side of the boat, the Naga Laut, to be ill overboard, when he became dizzy and blacked out. When he woke, he was in the water – the boat already 10 or 15 metres ahead of him and it was dark and pouring with rain.
The talk will take place at Strand town hall, at 10am, and the doors open at 9am, when tea and coffee will be available.
Guests are welcome, at R20 entry fee. Call Brodwyn at 083 604 0784 for more information.
