Bay Of Plenty possum-trapper and outdoors YouTuber, Shay Williamson, has become the first Kiwi to win a season of the viral survival TV series, Alone.
The 30-year-old managed to tough out 76 days in the Tasmanian winter, eating insects, sleeping in makeshift shelters and losing 25% bodyweight to win $250,000.
In the show, 10 contestants are dropped in remote lands, dozens of kilometres away from each other, with only a few essentials.
Because there are no film crews, competitors must carry 70kg of camera gear with them to self-document their experience.
The challenge is to survive as long as possible, and the only way contestants are eliminated is if they choose to ‘tap out’, or are deemed unfit to carry on.
The West Coast ranges of Tasmania experienced almost record rainfall while the season was underway, forcing Williamson and the other contestants to be vigilant while bordering the lake.
However, it proved to be somewhat of an advantage, as Williamson was able to use it to fish, and in the end, he caught 23 fish and 14 eels.
“Once the lake started to rise, it brought a heap of fish to my area.
“The rainy nights were actually the best fishing for me, just because the lake would be rising and there’d be more worms on the edge of the lake, so there’d be fish feeding on them at night,” he added.
While the prize money was a big motivator, Williamson says his main reason for wanting to go on Alone was to put a lifetime of bushcraft and outdoor skills to the test.
When asked what the prize money would go towards, he said it would go to paying off the mortgage.
“I won’t be splashing out on a brand-new ute or anything.”
Photo Credit: Now To Love NZ
