'We both did it': How the winner of Alone Australia season 3 survived for 76 days in the wild

SBS Australia

2 days ago

Season three was the toughest and longest season of Alone Australia so far. Source: SBS News / Narelle Portanier Shay Williamson had been preparing for Alone Australia for years before the show even existed. The 30-year-old New Zealander has been possum trapping since he was 16 and has spent much of his adult life living off the land, including extended stretches in remote bushland, where he has gained a deep understanding of nature. Now, after 76 days alone in the untamed wilderness of Tasmania's West Coast Range, he has been revealed as the winner of Alone Australia season three . Speaking to SBS News ahead of the finale, Shay says he had been confident in his survival abilities going into the show but was concerned about the possibility of losing too much weight and being forced out early.
"I knew I'd give it a good crack and I knew I was going to see it through to the end … I wasn't going to leave on my own terms, I was going to be there until someone told me I wasn't allowed to be there anymore," Shay says.
But I was a little bit nervous, [there's] no guarantees in this sort of thing. I knew I wouldn't necessarily get the ending that I was after. Shay's fear nearly became a reality. In the second part of the double-episode finale, the medical team expressed concern he had lost a quarter of his body weight. They warned him he would need to submit to more frequent medical checks — but ultimately decided he was healthy enough to stay. This would turn out to be Shay's saving grace, with runner-up Muzza being withdrawn due to medical concerns shortly after.
On the 76th day, Shay was named the winner, with his wife Abby surprising him at his campsite to tell him the news. In their emotional reunion, he says he felt as though his wife — who had been taking care of their two young daughters at home —had done the challenge with him as a team. "We both did it," he says. "From day one, I'd been saying I want to come home with that money, no matter how long it takes, no matter how difficult it gets … $250,000 is life-changing for our family."
The West Coast Range is not for the faint of heart. Over two and a half months in cold, dark and wet conditions, Shay battled extreme elements, including the heaviest monthly rainfall in the area in seven years and flooding, which forced him to relocate his shelter. He survived predominantly on eel, fish and plants — even eating bowls of worms when he had no other option. When cooked with salt, he says the worms "tasted like beef chow mein".
It wasn't until his 67th day in the wilderness that he managed to catch a pademelon — a wallaby-like marsupial — which provided him sustenance leading into the final days of the competition. But throughout all the challenges and merciless conditions, Shay's positive and happy-go-lucky attitude shone through, and he never lost sight of his goals and motivation.
During his time in Tasmania, he regularly spoke about his wife and their two young daughters, and the difference the cash prize would have on their lives. Before Alone Australia, Shay had weathered long stints in the bush alone in his native New Zealand, living off nature. He believes this is what made him a prime contestant for the hit show and prompted an earlier application for the United States version. "I've been doing that sort of thing [since] before I even knew about Alone," Shay says. "That's just sort of what I enjoy, going in the bush without food for a bit and seeing what I can gather up — so most of my preparation has been just working in the bush and doing that as my hobby."
When I found out about the show, it was like … this is perfect. For the uninitiated, Alone Australia follows 10 participants as they test their solo survival skills and resilience in the wild, attempting to outlast each other for the chance to win $250,000. The survivalists are dropped at separate locations and are allowed to bring 10 items — such as clothes, a first aid kit, and tools — to help them stay safe and secure food, water and shelter. They have no contact with one another and do not interact with any other humans during the competition, except for medical checks. The last person standing wins.
Shay says his years of experience as a professional possum trapper and nature-based lifestyle — he and his family often cook wild-caught meat and foraged food — equipped him with the knowledge and practical skills to meet the physical challenges of Alone. But he says the mental challenge was something he couldn't have prepared for. "I think the biggest struggle was not knowing when it would end because you just don't know," he says. "You just don't know how well anyone else is doing … that was probably the hardest thing … and potentially being away for a really, really long time and then not getting the win and coming home and being depleted and a bit of a burden on the family. "That was my biggest fear."
Reflecting on his time in the Tasmanian wilderness, Shay says he feels more connected to nature than ever before. He describes a gradual process of attuning to nature and developing a feel for its patterns, for example, knowing whether rising water would be a problem or where he might find food. "By the end of it, I really felt like I was quite in tune and almost knew where a fish was, or what was going to happen around me," he says.
I guess it's the spiritual or instinctual connection you get in nature when you're living in it all the time. Since filming wrapped up, Shay has been able to connect with other contestants and says many of them expressed a similar sentiment. "No matter what the outcome is, it's definitely life-changing. "And talking to the other nine [contestants], I think everyone's had a pretty positive experience and gained a new perspective on their lives." Alone Australia: The Reunion premieres on Wednesday 4 June at 9.30pm on SBS On Demand and Wednesday 11 June at 7.30pm on SBS.