Lord of the Flies: How six Teenagers survived on the Island

Six teenagers were discovered living on an island in the South Pacific, called Ata. The story of the teenagers on the island of Ata is a real event that has been compared to the novel Lord of the Flies, although its ending was much more hopeful.

In 1965, six Tongan boys between the ages of 13 and 18 stole a boat for a little adventure, but after a strong storm, they ended up stranded on the uninhabited island of Ata. They were there for 15 months, surviving thanks to their ingenuity and teamwork.

They created a kind of mini-civilization, with a garden, a system to collect water, and even built a house and a bonfire that never went out during their stay.

Photographer John Carnemolla returned with the boys to the island in 1966 to capture images that showed how they lived during those months, which included building objects and their daily life on the island, such as fishing and playing a handmade ukulele.

Unlike Golding’s novel, these teenagers did not turn against each other, but managed to keep the peace and help each other.