Castaway

A true tale of shipwreck and survival in harrowing sub-antarctic conditions off NZ's southern coast. Samuel, the keeper of this diary, is 13 when he signs on as a cabin boy aboard a vessel bound for Sydney. The barque Dundonald founders and sinks off Disappointment Island (part of the Auckland Islands group) in the ocean south of New Zealand on 6 March, 1907. Fifteen survivors endure a harsh winter on this remote island until their rescue in late November that year. Samuel Clark is a fictional character, however the other survivors are all based on real people. Previously published as Castaway: The Diary of Samuel Abraham Clark. Duration - 4h 8m. Author - Bill O'Brien. Narrator - Jesse Park. Published Date - Monday, 19 January 2026. Copyright - © 2010 Scholastic New Zealand ©.