Contracting a deadly disease while sailing remote Indonesia - (Episode 338)
November 9, 2025 · 28 min · 162K views · Indonesia
Catamaran sails under storm clouds in remote Indonesia
What this video covers
Dan and Julia Harrison, sailing a 36-foot Peter Snell-designed catamaran named Malala with their two daughters, contracted Plasmodium falciparum malaria — the most dangerous strain — while anchored at the Banyak Islands in remote North Sumatra, Indonesia, a location with no internet access and no nearby medical infrastructure.8:38 Julia's symptoms began with chills and fever after a surf session, cycling through apparent recovery before rapidly worsening.9:04 The nearest clinic, a day's sail away in Sinabang, could not stabilize her; an ambulance transferred her over a mountain road to a hospital in Medan, where she arrived convulsing and repeatedly stopped breathing.16:13 Her 11-year-old daughter monitored her pulse by hand during the journey.15:46 A malaria specialist on shift in Medan administered treatment; Julia required two blood transfusions and five dialysis sessions.19:22 A medevac on a private jet — formerly owned by Miley Cyrus — flew her to the Gold Coast, where she recovered at Tweed Hospital.22:51 Residual kidney damage and temporary speech impairment followed, though blood results later normalized.23:36 Dan initially sold the boat, but Julia insisted on returning; they sailed Thailand for several months before going back to Indonesia.24:19 Key lessons: carry comprehensive travel insurance, and seek medical care immediately rather than waiting out symptoms in remote anchorages.25:47
Boats in this video
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