Back from the Dead: The Astonishing True Story of the Crew of the Blythe Star - and Survival in One of the Wildest Places on Earth

by Piia Wirsu, Mick Doleman

1973: The incredible true story of the Blythe Star disaster, which left ten men, shipwrecked and alone, on the wild Southern Ocean off Tasmania. Almost two weeks later they were found on a remote trail on a southern peninsula, and their story would stun the nation ... and leave a powerful legacy in its wake.


When the coastal freighter MV Blythe Star left Hobart on a routine trip, Mick Doleman was an 18-year-old deckhand working alongside nine other crewmen, all accustomed to the dangers of the sea. But nothing could prepare them for what happened less than 24 hours later.

In the early morning, the Blythe Star started listing, and swiftly sank. Miraculously, all the crewmen escaped, only to be crammed into a tiny life raft at the mercy of the ocean. The ship's sinking sparked the largest sea and air search at the time, but the crew remained lost – and soon they were given up for dead.

Twelve days later, three ravaged and starving men, including Mick, found help on a remote logging trail in heavy bush on the Tasman Peninsula. Their story was shocking, and set the country alight with questions about their plight. How had they disappeared without trace? How had they survived the un-survivable?

This is an extraordinary story of human endurance in one of the most challenging environments on earth, written by Piia Wirsu, the producer and narrator of 'From the Dead', the award-winning season of the ABC podcast Expanse, with Mick Doleman, now the only surviving crewmember of the Blythe Star, who became a global influence in maritime safety.

340 pages, Paperback

Published July 29, 2025

Reviews

[Kimmy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 because the typeface on the cover made me feel slightly seasick every time I picked up the book. Apart from that, an incredible story of endurance, survival, and determination, interspersed with more than there should be incidences of bureaucratic bungling. In 1973, the Blythe Star left for its usual cargo journey from Hobart to King Island (Tasmania, Australia). However (no spoilers), it sunk, and the crew were left adrift in a small emergency life-raft, at the mercy of the severe weather conditions off the south coast of Tasmania. 12 days later, a logger in a remote area picked up three men with an unbelievable tale to tell.
Taken from interviews, this very well laid out timeline of the people, their jobs, their role in the drama, and an outline of what happened to them once the media circus left (greatly aided by one of the survivors, Mick Doleman) makes for a fascinating read of a chapter in Australian maritime history that very few are aware of.

[Richard F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought as a Father's day present, this is not really something I would usually have chosen to read. But in the end it was a fairly entertaining if straightforward read.

Telling the events of the Blythe Star incident off the South-West coast of Tasmania in the 1970s, it spins the events of the sinking and subsequent survival of the crew in a High-paced fashion. This is interspersed with the perspectives of the search team and the families involved

It was interesting reading about the attitudes in 1970s - Australia was still the Wild West in many aspects, from the pre-departure drinks partaken by the captain and the devil-may-care loading of the ship, to the fact that the Federal Transport Minister himself apparently jumped in a light plane and joined the search himself.

I felt the momentum lost a bit of pace part way through. There was a lot much to report on board the liferaft, but given the enquiry afterwards I would have preferred to hear more about the search logistics (or lack of them through confusion) compared to the anxious waiting of the families. But that's just me... I prefer the practical over the personal.

I was surprised to find that when I canvassed my relatives who would have been in their 30s then, nobody seemed to hear of the "biggest maritime search operation in Australia's history". Curious indeed. So I'll be in touch passing this book around to at least jog their memories!

3.5 stars.

[Jack Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Back from the dead is a book on survival at sea, and after reading it I'm not sure if I would have the capacity for strength that these ten men had while being stranded on an inflatable life boat after their ship the Blythe Star sank due to mismanagement and lackadaisical laws, regulations and inspections.

I felt physically sick and had butterflies in my stomach every time in this novel a chance of rescue came but it never was achieved. It was hard to read and try to imagine what these men went through. Unfortunately even though many of the men survived, seven to be exact, this traumatic event followed them through their entire lives and none of them except for Mike made it through their sixties, I can only hope they went onto better things and that someone is looking after them now, despite Mick's reservations about religion/Christianity.

One thing I wasn't expecting was the emotional impact this story would have on me, every time one of the crew members passed away I was legitimately upset especially for what had happened with Ken, also how they all died made it even more tragic and upsetting, since their deaths could have been so easily avoided.

These men are what make me proud to be Australian (Well most of them do, except maybe for Cruickshank though he was Scottish).

What happened to Ken and his character in the enquiry was incredibly infuriating and made me lose what little sympathy I had from Cruickshanks. This book makes you feel all these different emotions and is incredibly well written for it. The book is mostly from the perspective of Mike Doleman, but we do get other people's perspectives, both Mike's family and from the families of the other members of the crew.

Mike had an amazing career and was a terrific advocate for many things after the events of the Blythe Star. He is a true Australian and a decent human being so he should be recognised for what he did in the union movement and for women working in maritime occupations as well as with domestic violence and the white ribbon organisation.

All in all it was a top read. I would absolutely recommend it.

I can't wait to start the podcast this made this book possible! it's called The Expanse from the ABC is anyone else is interested.

[Peter S · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and a light read of an incredible incident and survival. The incompetence of the authorities in beginning a search and the resilience of the crew in their ordeal is central to the book. I found the personal link back "at home" a little weak in the telling. More of the later enquiry details would have strengthened the telling.

[Peter Langston · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gripping read of amazing survival.