Island Castaway Mourns The Death Of His Only Companion - His Dog

A former multi-millionaire who is now living on a desert island off Australia as a castaway is mourning the loss of his only companion - his pet dog, Polly.

David Glasheen, who lost his multi-million pound fortune in a stock market crash in 1987, has been devastated by the loss of Polly the dingo, a wild dog who had been gifted to him by an aboriginal tribe, after she was bitten by a snake.

Polly's untimely death comes just two years after his old dog, Quassi, met the same fate.

David's only contact with the outside world is documentary maker Alvaro Cerezo, who said David has been deeply affected by the death of Polly.

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Alvaro said: "Polly was his best friend. Dave never shows it, but I know he is very sad. He said he had never had a dog as clever.

"He wants to find another one but he's still coming to terms with it. It wasn't long ago that he went through the same thing."

David, 75, had called Polly over to finish her lunch, and only realised something was badly wrong when he saw her foaming at the mouth. That was when he spotted the bite mark on her leg.

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After the ex-businessman lost his millions and his marriage had broken down, he shed his belongings and moved to Restoration Island - a tiny spot just off the east coast of Australia at the northern end of the Great Barrier Reef.

He has lived there since 1997 with limited access to fresh water, electricity and internet.

And the tragic death of David's companion is not the end of his worries at the moment, as his life as a castaway is coming under threat by the Australian authorities.

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Alvaro said: "He's got enough to worry about at the moment. The government wants to kick him off the island, so this has definitely made things harder.

"But he's a very positive person, I've never met another castaway like him. He does not plan to leave the island."

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Speaking in June 2017, David said he never wanted to rejoin civilization.

He said: "I want to die here - where else would I? This is my heaven on Earth.

"When I came here I was sick of money - money is what makes people sick - and my marriage had broken apart.

"But being on your own you do miss intelligent conversation and the physical contact of other people."

Topics: Dog, Film and TV, Documentary, Community, Animals

Nathan Standley

Nathan Standley is a freelance journalist and LADBible contributor. He graduated from Durham University with a degree in Anthropology before going on to do a Master’s degree in Journalism at the University of Sheffield. He also writes articles for The Versed and is the Cultural Editor of The Common Sense Network.