LOUIE
AGE: 28
FROM: WALLASEY
OCCUPATION: BUILDER

ABOUT

Louie is a builder. His job means he is constantly on his feet, which helps him to keeps fit.

He loves wild swimming, camping and mountain climbing but his dream has always been to be dropped somewhere with just an axe, so that he can live in nature and construct his own shelter.

A few years ago, Louie had a serious motorbike crash, which meant he couldn’t work for a year. He spent all of his savings on bills and couldn’t get out of the house. The feeling of helplessness Louie experienced after his accident is something he never wants to go through again. He likes to fend for himself and make his own decisions.

Louie believes that taking part in Alone will give him the confidence boost he needs and will make him feel unstoppable.

Interview with Louie

How would you describe this challenge for you?

What I’m about to do is probably the ultimate test. You can be good on paper, you can have a PhD, or like me, you could be good with your hands. But I think this challenge I’m about to do will test every ounce of grit, determination, intelligence, and common sense. This is the ultimate challenge for anyone, and I just hope I’m ready for it.

How do you feeling about getting there?

I’m terrified to go in. I’m not even going to try and sugar coat it, or try and be an arrogant typical guy. I’m actually terrified to be dropped in there on my own. Your imagination can be your worst enemy as well as your friend. But at the moment it’s my worst enemy. It will be beautiful where I’m going but I can’t help but think about being alone in this desolate place, with no food. I’ve thought about it a lot over the last few months. Where I’ll be, what the fish will be like. I’m ready for it though, because I’ve already terrified myself enough with what I think I’m going to be faced with, and I just want to see if that matches my imagination.

Why do you want to do this then? Why is it so important for you to do this?

This is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid. I find my best memories have come from when I’ve been terrified. When I’m doing something a little bit dangerous or outside my comfort zone it helps with my personal growth. It makes me feel like I’m not a kid anymore, I’m a man. Doing this calibre of challenge will do wonders for me, or completely crush me. But I’m ready to find out.

Where do you think you’ll be challenged most?

This challenge for me is all about survival. I’m a very practical kind of guy so how good a shelter or fire I can build should be second nature to me. What I’m more concerned about is the mental side. For me, this a hundred percent a mind game. The physical bits can help me through it, but when push comes to shove, this is a mental challenge, and I’m really ready to see what I’m actually made of.

How do you feel about being completely alone?

I’m good in my own company. I work by myself. I go to the gym by myself. I spend a lot of my days alone. But I’ve always got the option to be with other people so when that option is taken away from me, that’s going to be the true test. When I don’t have that person to hug, or that phone call to have, or even a group of people to people watch. I’ve always thought I would do well on my own but this will be my true test to see if I am right.

Do you feel ready for this challenge?

I feel as ready as I’m ever going to be. I’m still at that age where I’ve got a lot of fight left in me. Practically, I feel very strong and I’m at a good place where problem- solving is quite fun for me. I’m not scared of suffering a little bit. I’m kind of embracing it. I know it’s going to be tough, but there’s just nothing else I’d rather do. I can’t concentrate on anything else. I just want to be part of this. I’m as ready as I’m ever going to be.

Do you want to win?

It’s not even so much about winning, I just don’t want to quit, because if the worst happens, then it happens. I don’t want to go home with the regret of tapping out.

If you had to tap out then can you imagine how you would feel?

I think if I tapped out it would hurt more than a bad crash. This is a big deal for me. In my own head, I’ve kind of put my own integrity into this challenge, and if I fail by quitting, I’ll feel I’ve just let myself down. I’m harder on myself than anyone is.

Do you see this as the greatest adventure of your life?

Yes, this is the greatest adventure of my life. Even if I become a millionaire in the future, that still wouldn’t even come close. With all the money in the world, I couldn’t have put myself in this position again. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m very aware of that. I haven’t been able to think of anything but this challenge for months now. I’m excited to be dropped. I’m ready for it.

How do you think this will change your life?

It could change the way I look at myself. I’m still unsure if that’ll be better or worse. That will depend on how I do.

What is your plan?

I think a lot of people will expect me to build a huge amazing shelter straight away. But that’s not going to be the case. I’m going to kind of build slow, and when I’ve got the calories to pay for the materials as such, I’ll put an extension on it. That’s my tactic, so I’ve always got something to do. The last thing I want to do is build a big shelter and then just sit there for however long. I’m a slow and methodical kind of person. My main worry in there is finding a food source. So, I want to get accustomed to hunting and fishing as quickly as possible. I feel fairly comfortable that I can survive. So, yeah, that’s it.

How do you think you’re going to cope with hunger?

One of my concerns is the hunger side of things. I do get moody if I miss a meal. But then again, it just kind of drives me more into my hunting and fishing mode. But I feel like if I had food, the whole challenge wouldn’t be the same. That makes it more gritty. It’s the extra icing on the cake of this whole challenge. In a very peculiar way, I’m quite excited to know how it feels to be that hungry. I’m excited to see how good food tastes when you haven’t eaten for three, or four days. But I’m also terrified that this is what will take me out of the challenge eventually.