There were many small tender mercy's to this story that the episode didn't even mention. I had no idea this episode was about people that I knew when I started watching while cleaning my kitchen. For example David had a chance to say goodbye to every member of his family individually before he left. This story has impacted his family ever since, as well as the people who care about them. The leaders of this group and the boys have had their lives effected forever as well. The episode has a lot of interesting information, but believe me, it barely scratches the surface of everything that happened. In the end, given the time frame for the show, and the privacy of those involved, it was fairly well done.
6 Reviews
Key missing point
larry-mf-riley31 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
I agree with some of the points made in the previous posts. I too wondered why the three older scout leaders and two young scouts made it out OK and only the three boys who pushed on were the focus of the story.
After doing some research I found out that the only way the rest of the party was found was through a radio call made by the river guide and the subsequent rescue efforts. In fact, the two older scout leaders were unconscious when they were found! Clearly, the rest of the party would have perished had the "foolish" boys not have pushed on.
From a documentary/entertainment perspective, I have no idea why the story didn't focus on the five they saved, not just the one they lost.
My condolences to David's family.
After doing some research I found out that the only way the rest of the party was found was through a radio call made by the river guide and the subsequent rescue efforts. In fact, the two older scout leaders were unconscious when they were found! Clearly, the rest of the party would have perished had the "foolish" boys not have pushed on.
From a documentary/entertainment perspective, I have no idea why the story didn't focus on the five they saved, not just the one they lost.
My condolences to David's family.
Its all in the planning...
demiurgiac1 May 2010
The others post here, so far, have failed to focus on the primary issue. PLANNING! This hike was doomed before it ever began. To begin with, none of these folks should ever have tried this extreme hike without a lot of other, less ambitious hikes in order to gain the proper experience. (1)Almost no one over the age of 70 should have attempted this hike. (2) Almost no one 15-16 years old has the experience for this hike without capable leadership such as a profession trekking organization. (3) A $500 EPERB Would have ended the drama before it began. (4) NEVER hike in that kind of brutal conditions between 10-4. (5) Weather forecasts are pretty accurate now. They should not have even gone with the kind of heat that was expect.
I am 70 years old and have spent a lifetime adventuring. I know what I am talking about. I am as fit as one can be at my age but would NEVER agree to be responsible for those young lives in that environment. There are dozens of beautiful hikes (i.e. Tahoe Rim trail) these folks could/should have chose. I was perplexed that the older gentlemen would even agree to be interviewed for the program. Had I been responsible for that boy's death I would have moved away in shame, never to talk about it to anyone.
I am 70 years old and have spent a lifetime adventuring. I know what I am talking about. I am as fit as one can be at my age but would NEVER agree to be responsible for those young lives in that environment. There are dozens of beautiful hikes (i.e. Tahoe Rim trail) these folks could/should have chose. I was perplexed that the older gentlemen would even agree to be interviewed for the program. Had I been responsible for that boy's death I would have moved away in shame, never to talk about it to anyone.
Heartbreaking but inspirational.
pyromaniaislove19 March 2007
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILER*** (Please turn back now if you do not want this episode spoiled for you!)
This is about the saddest thing I've seen in ages. I don't watch I Shouldn't be Alive very often, but this is one of the rare occasions when I actually did. It just came up on my television screen and I figured...well, I'll just watch it.
I figured, yeah, the'll all live, since I knew this was a show about survival. (And the title is I Shouldn't be Alive, so I figured...) When David died, I could not stand it. I was crying so much that time. I said to myself, "He SHOULD BE alive!"
Then, there was actually a lot that contributed to his death. First of all, he was carrying Guy's pack around, which could have led to severe exhaustion. Then, he shared the rest of his water with his friends, so you could conclude he probably had the least drink of water. Lastly, he walked the one and a half mile trek (not sure about the distance) to check if Guy was right about the nearby waterfall. So there you go.
At first, I was angry at his death, but then I figured...wow, that just makes him more of a hero, right? I'm not saying that his death was what made him a hero. I wish he HADN'T died. But that was probably what motivated the other boys to keep going.
Otherwise, I couldn't help thinking how much that SUCKED that David collapsed about a mere 200 yards from the river! I wanted to scream or smash the television, because I was actually PRAYING he was going to live. It's funny how you don't know a person at all and still feel devastated that they didn't make it.
I was surprised how, excuse me for saying this, and I'm sorry if I offended anyone, the elder hikers survived (I am NOT saying that is a bad thing!) and a fifteen-year-old didn't. I was just shocked for a moment.
Still, I find this episode very, very inspirational seeing the motivation of the whole gang. God bless to all of the survivors, and thank you for inspiring me, David. I hope you're happy. Wherever you are.
This is about the saddest thing I've seen in ages. I don't watch I Shouldn't be Alive very often, but this is one of the rare occasions when I actually did. It just came up on my television screen and I figured...well, I'll just watch it.
I figured, yeah, the'll all live, since I knew this was a show about survival. (And the title is I Shouldn't be Alive, so I figured...) When David died, I could not stand it. I was crying so much that time. I said to myself, "He SHOULD BE alive!"
Then, there was actually a lot that contributed to his death. First of all, he was carrying Guy's pack around, which could have led to severe exhaustion. Then, he shared the rest of his water with his friends, so you could conclude he probably had the least drink of water. Lastly, he walked the one and a half mile trek (not sure about the distance) to check if Guy was right about the nearby waterfall. So there you go.
At first, I was angry at his death, but then I figured...wow, that just makes him more of a hero, right? I'm not saying that his death was what made him a hero. I wish he HADN'T died. But that was probably what motivated the other boys to keep going.
Otherwise, I couldn't help thinking how much that SUCKED that David collapsed about a mere 200 yards from the river! I wanted to scream or smash the television, because I was actually PRAYING he was going to live. It's funny how you don't know a person at all and still feel devastated that they didn't make it.
I was surprised how, excuse me for saying this, and I'm sorry if I offended anyone, the elder hikers survived (I am NOT saying that is a bad thing!) and a fifteen-year-old didn't. I was just shocked for a moment.
Still, I find this episode very, very inspirational seeing the motivation of the whole gang. God bless to all of the survivors, and thank you for inspiring me, David. I hope you're happy. Wherever you are.
No knowledge
bkaygordon22 January 2023
I have stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon in June-I would NEVER try to hike in the summer.
As I sat watching this show, living in Utah and knowing that grown men still do take young men out on "High adventure" hikes, I cringed and cried and knew I was smart never to allow my teenaged son to go on these types of activities.
There is almost an attitude of daring Mother Nature to bring back a story to tell at church-yes I have heard several, including ones about Angels landing at Zions canyon.
It saddens me that people in the year 2022 still dare Mother Nature and die in the Grand Canyon.
This episode is a pure example of warning to not do these types of hiking activities in the summer.
As I sat watching this show, living in Utah and knowing that grown men still do take young men out on "High adventure" hikes, I cringed and cried and knew I was smart never to allow my teenaged son to go on these types of activities.
There is almost an attitude of daring Mother Nature to bring back a story to tell at church-yes I have heard several, including ones about Angels landing at Zions canyon.
It saddens me that people in the year 2022 still dare Mother Nature and die in the Grand Canyon.
This episode is a pure example of warning to not do these types of hiking activities in the summer.
Not as good as usual
alamadu1 April 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I usually love this show, in fact I love any kind of survival show. I think it's because I love backpacking so much and I love knowing as much as possible about dealing with tough situations. This episode, however, just angered me.
It's not that there was something wrong with the show as much as the subjects of this episode. Usually we find ourselves following people who end up being victims of an accident far away from help. This may be from them being reckless or maybe from shear bad luck. In this episode though it was from them being emotional and not very smart. Unfortunately the outcome of these emotional bad decisions was the needless death of a 15 year old boy.
I realize hiking in the desert takes a massive toll on you especially when your water runs out, but from the time that their water ran out to when the boys are leaving a fallen member, then the whole group, then having death dreams, then climbing a 200 ft cliff, was about half of a day. They did all of this because "they will die if they don't", at least that was their mentality. I was furious watching this because the leaders of that group should have tried harder to control the fear in their young companions. No one would have died if they would just rest until late afternoon and hike when it was cooler...TOGETHER!!!
In the beginning of this episode I was just laughing at it because I have been in equally bad situations but this was on TV with an overuse of drama. When guy decided he couldn't go on I thought "ok so guy is the survivor they'll have to get him out and they are all dehydrated" but no they leave him. This is where I got angry, they didn't leave anyone with him they didn't even go back to check on him, they just left. The so called leader of the boys let a fearful 15 year old talk him into just going without looking back. then once they come to their senses and decide to rest during the hot part of the day (I asked why they weren't doing this long before they did) the three young boys refuse to stay and leave by themselves. It was maddening that they left but more maddening that no one tried harder to keep the group together. When emotional 15 year old boys are out by themselves in a situation like this they throw their pack off a cliff to make sure they climb down. If they had rested with every one else they would have been fine for a few more hours and could have made it to the water that night. But instead a healthy young man died needlessly because he freaked out in a situation that really wasn't that bad.
This one shouldn't be called "I Shouldn't be Alive" it should be called "That Kid Should have Never Died" because EVERYONE in that group should be alive.
It's not that there was something wrong with the show as much as the subjects of this episode. Usually we find ourselves following people who end up being victims of an accident far away from help. This may be from them being reckless or maybe from shear bad luck. In this episode though it was from them being emotional and not very smart. Unfortunately the outcome of these emotional bad decisions was the needless death of a 15 year old boy.
I realize hiking in the desert takes a massive toll on you especially when your water runs out, but from the time that their water ran out to when the boys are leaving a fallen member, then the whole group, then having death dreams, then climbing a 200 ft cliff, was about half of a day. They did all of this because "they will die if they don't", at least that was their mentality. I was furious watching this because the leaders of that group should have tried harder to control the fear in their young companions. No one would have died if they would just rest until late afternoon and hike when it was cooler...TOGETHER!!!
In the beginning of this episode I was just laughing at it because I have been in equally bad situations but this was on TV with an overuse of drama. When guy decided he couldn't go on I thought "ok so guy is the survivor they'll have to get him out and they are all dehydrated" but no they leave him. This is where I got angry, they didn't leave anyone with him they didn't even go back to check on him, they just left. The so called leader of the boys let a fearful 15 year old talk him into just going without looking back. then once they come to their senses and decide to rest during the hot part of the day (I asked why they weren't doing this long before they did) the three young boys refuse to stay and leave by themselves. It was maddening that they left but more maddening that no one tried harder to keep the group together. When emotional 15 year old boys are out by themselves in a situation like this they throw their pack off a cliff to make sure they climb down. If they had rested with every one else they would have been fine for a few more hours and could have made it to the water that night. But instead a healthy young man died needlessly because he freaked out in a situation that really wasn't that bad.
This one shouldn't be called "I Shouldn't be Alive" it should be called "That Kid Should have Never Died" because EVERYONE in that group should be alive.
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