In 2018, 19-year-old Aldi Novel Adilang faced exactly that terrifying situation when the floating wooden fish trap where he worked broke loose and drifted into the Pacific Ocean.

Aldi was working as a lamp keeper on a small fishing platform called a rompong, around 125 kilometres off North Sulawesi, Indonesia. On July 14, strong winds snapped its mooring rope, leaving him stranded on the engine-less structure with no way to return.

His food supplies lasted only about a week. After that, he survived by catching fish and cooking them over a small fire made using wood from the hut.

Finding drinking water was another daily challenge. When rain came, he collected it. When there was no rain, he used his clothes to help reduce the salt from seawater.

As the days passed, Aldi became frightened and emotionally overwhelmed. After several ships passed without noticing him, he turned to prayer and his Bible to find strength and hope.

After 49 days at sea, and drifting nearly 1,200 miles, his long ordeal finally came to an end. On August 31, 2018, the MV Arpeggio, a Panamanian bulk carrier, spotted and rescued him near Guam.

Aldi was eventually taken to Japan and safely returned to his family in Indonesia.

His story remains a remarkable example of survival, faith and human resilience.