Poon Lim

Poon Lim BEM (Chinese: 潘濂; pinyin: Pān Lián; 8 March 1918 – 4 January 1991) was a Chinese seafarer. In 1942–43, he survived a record 133 days alone on a life raft in the South Atlantic.

Poon was Second Mess Steward on SS Benlomond, a British cargo ship that the German submarine U-172 sank on 23 November 1942. He survived on an eight-foot (2.4 m) wooden raft with supplies. When the supplies ran low, Poon resorted to fishing, catching seabirds, and rainwater collection.

On 5 April 1943, three Brazilian fishermen rescued Poon as he neared the coast of Brazil. After Poon returned to the United Kingdom, King George VI awarded him the British Empire Medal. After the Second World War, Poon emigrated to the United States.

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