Boater survives after spending more than a week in a life raft

Nathan Carman now safe on dry land after he told the Coast Guard he spent seven days in a four-person, inflatable life raft.
 
"Survivability in a life raft is possible. There are people who have survived a long time in a life raft," says Brian Flowers from Life Raft and Survival Equipment in Tiverton.
 
Flowers says surviving this type of situation, usually depends on preparation.

"If you know the equipment on board, you’ll be able to get an idea of the weather the elements. It depends if you injured or not, it’s all preparation," Flowers says.

The specific lay out of Carman’s raft is unclear, but survival experts say you can loose body heat quickly through the floor of a life raft when it’s afloat in the water. Some rafts have a double-floor, which can delay the set-in of hypothermia. Carman’s experience with boats could also have helped.

"If he did fishing trips there is training that can be done,"adds Flowers.
 
Flowers says most boats are equip with a radio, but he suggests an which sends a signal to the coast guard. According to the coast guard its unclear if Carman’s had a radio, as there was no mayday call made.
 
The Coast Guard says Carman’s survival is largely due to the fact he had food and water.

(c)WLNE-TV 2016