Now, as one of the biggest names in the world of exploration, Ed Stafford has released the book detailing his time spending 60 days marooned and naked on a deserted island, having to fend for himself whilst filming his incredible journey.
Female First got the opportunity to put some questions to the man himself about his career so far, what it is about adventure that gets him going and where he'll be out headed in the future.
Credit: DiscoveryHow did you find yourself going down this career path and becoming an explorer?
I used to be a soldier. I left the military as a captain in 2002 and couldn’t get a job in the City as a stockbroker. It was the previous recession and no-one would give me a job. So as a “stop gap” I decided to take a group of volunteers on an expedition to the jungle and have never looked back.
Have you always been a person with an adventurous personality?
I’ve always loved the excitement of living off my wits and putting myself in challenging situations - yes. I think new experiences make you grow - and repetitive ones make you wither and die!
What is it about getting out and doing the sort of challenges you do that appeals to you?
Too many people are afraid to break out of the norm. I have to say I’m more afraid of looking back and regretting not taking every opportunity ever presented to me. To me this isn’t reckless - it is just saying yes to life and not restricting myself with neurotic fear.
For your new book 'Ed Stafford: Naked And Marooned' you're left to survive on an island for 60 days doing literally what the title says - how did you find this whole experience?
Life changing. And that’s no throw away comment. The experience gave me nowhere to hide. I was stripped bare both literally and metaphorically and I had to explore every dark crevice of my mind, heart and soul. I fell apart for a while - but in doing so I learned lessons that I value highly now so I never regret the experience.
What were your thoughts going into this journey?
I was worried about how it would affect me mentally but I was naive and thought I’d cope ok. I didn’t have a clue just how brutal isolation can be at times. I came back with symptoms not dissimilar to that of a hostage victim. Not that I’m after any sort of sympathy for that - my ordeal was very much one I chose to undertake.
All you took to the island with you was a camera so you could film for your new TV show - was it difficult to prioritise what to do whilst having to film everything?
Overwhelmingly so. Decision making - truly alone - requires a huge amount of self-belief as there is no-one to turn to for advice or help. The enormity that I didn’t even have any water was indescribable. And trying to capture all of these emotions made it into a kind of twisted dance with a crazy man in front of the mirror. I wanted to record the crazy thoughts, the panic, the indecision, but I was going through it all whilst trying to direct a film about it all.
What were some of the scariest moments you went through on the island?
Unlike the Amazon it wasn’t all communist terrorists, drugs traffickers, hostile tribes and venomous snakes. Olorua was, on the surface, a pretty amenable place. My scariest moments were dances with my own sanity. When I couldn’t stop songs going round my head I became panicked at the thought of being schizophrenic. I wanted the songs to stop - so who was playing them?! Me of course - but rather than being kind to myself through this encounter with different parts of myself I berated myself and created further internal struggle.
What would you note as some of your biggest career highlights to-date?
Being made a trustee of the Transglobe Expedition Trust was probably the highest. It beat a Guinness World Record and Adventurer of the Year both rolled into one. Somehow being recognised by Sir Ranulph Fiennes [who founded the trust] meant so much more to me than all the twitter compliments in the world.
What's your next big expedition going to entail?
I’m in the middle of filming a survival series for Discovery Channel called “Marooned”. It’s a spin off from the 60 days on the island and its challenge after challenge - week after week. I’m in talks about returning to something more expedition-y though in the Autumn. The explorer in me has lit enough fires now and made enough grass skirts to last a lifetime. It’s time to see what amazing things in the world are still left to discover.
Should we expect to see you onscreen and on paper again soon?
I am at the moment. Sunday nights at 9pm on Discovery Channel.
Naked and Marooned by Ed Stafford is published by Virgin Books on the 5th June price £20.00