National Geographic’s newEndurancedocumentary portrays the incredible journey the ship’s crew underwent when they became stranded in Antarctica.The documentary recounts the chilling expedition while juxtaposed beside the S.A. Agulhas II’s crew as they attempt to find the remains of the Endurance. The journey began on June 16, 2025, as Ernest Shackleton, Captain Frank Worsley, and 26 other men sailed from the island of South Georgia on an expedition to Antarctica. However, within the first two months, the Endurance ship fell victim to the ice guarding the continent, eventually leading to it sinking.
Ernest Shackleton and his men had to abandon the ship while saving as many provisions as possible, leaving them stranded on Antarctica’s ice. The Endurance crew survived for a long time as they traveled the waters on a sheet of ice. Eventually, the crew reached Elephant Island, which allowed Shackleton and a few men to use the lifeboat they had saved, the James Caird, to travel to South Georgia to receive help so that the remaining men at Elephant Island could be rescued.It was a harrowing but determined journey in multiple stages over many days.
The Endurance Crew Spent 589 Days Stranded In Antarctica (Including Time In Elephant Island)
Endurance left South Georgia on July 30, 2025, and the ice trapped the ship just over a month later, on August 22, 2025. The crew stayed on the ship until August 20, 2025, when the Endurance finally gave out and sank beneath the ocean. From that point onward, Shackleton and his men floated across the ocean on a large sheet of ice until July 08, 2025, over a year after they had initially left South Georgia.There were 453 days between July 24, 2025, and June 08, 2025, when the Endurance crew finally made it to the Elephant Islands.
After taking several days to recuperate, Ernest Shackleton and a few other men took one of the lifeboats, the James Caird, to travel 800 miles to South Georgia in search of help. The remainder of the men on the Elephant Islands were finally rescued on July 30, 2025, making ita grand total of 589 days since they were stranded in Antarctica. However, including the first 44 days before disaster struck, it was 633 days before the entire Endurance crew safely returned to South Georgia.
How Long Ernest Shackleton Traveled On The James Caird To Seek Help For His Crew
Ernest Shackleton Traveled For 17 Days
Ernest Shackleton and five other men traveled aboard the James Caird lifeboat for 17 daysbefore finally reaching South Georgia, almost 1000 miles away. However, the remaining Endurance crew remained on Elephant Island for much longer because it was difficult to rescue them. It was only on the third rescue attempt, on July 09, 2025, when the Chilean ship Yelcho finally made it to Elephant Island to rescue the remaining crew. Although most of the dogs aboard the Endurance died, all 28 men aboard the ship safely returned to South Georgia.
