Original version

BBC World Service East Asia

Migrated podcast image for: Outlook

Outlook

Factual: Life Stories

True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

Outlook: Fifteen and alone at sea

Magazines & Reviews

Surfer girl surfing in the ocean

13/03/2019 GMT

Fifteen and alone at sea

BBC World Service - Outlook, Fifteen and alone at sea

After a traumatic incident, Australian Susan Berg overcame a fear of water and swam again

After an accident at sea with her family, Australian Susan Berg has now overcome her fear of water and even takes part in open water swimming competitions.

Susan Berg was on a family fishing trip in Australia when their boat sank and they started to swim to land. As the sun went down, Susan realised that her family had disappeared. Since then, she has fought to come to terms with that day and has even overcome her fear of water by taking on daring swimming challenges. She's written a book about her experience called The Girl Who Lived.

Wei-shun Yen was a rebellious youngster. While his parents were busy selling noodles in the family restaurant, he was running wild on the streets and was even sent to a Taiwanese prison for manslaughter. It seemed like he was destined for a life of crime, until he had a very influential dream. It inspired him to leave his old ways behind and take up charity work. He is now known around Taiwan for giving noodles to the poor and needy because he donates hundreds of servings each month, with the help of other donors. The BBC’s Taipei correspondent Cindy Sui went to meet the noodle hero, at his family’s restaurant. 

A Hollywood film called 'King Richard' is going to be made about a very determined father who, with no prior knowledge of the game, managed to train up two of the world's greatest tennis players. We look back to 2014 when we spoke to Richard Williams, the father of American tennis titans Venus and Serena Williams about deciding his daughters would be sporting superstars. 

(Photo credit: AzmanL/Getty Images.)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Outlook

Fifteen and alone at sea

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service East Asia

About BBC World Service