Steven Kelly: I love learning how to survive off the land

Words: Tom Warburton

Most of us have wondered, how long could we survive stranded on a desert island?

Dure Magazine caught up with survival expert Steven Kelly, to get the insight on how to survive in some of the most hostile environments.

Hi Steven, tell us a little about yourself?

Hey, so I am a full-time soldier, serving in 29 Commando Regiment RA. be serving now for 18 years and I absolutely love it. Originally I’m from Liverpool but now I live in sunny Plymouth.

Where did your passion for survival spring from?

It came from a young lad in the Scouts, I just loved it. Then my passion has just grown on the subject. I love learning how to survive off the land.

You’re currently serving with 29 Commando Royal Artillery, and have served in operations in Afghanistan. Have you found your survival skills have benefited you in your service and whilst on tour? 

Yes definitely when I am doing navigation training, I can just orientate myself quickly using the sun and stars, without messing about with my compass.

Alongside the army, you’re also bushcraft and survival consultant with your company “South West Survival”. How did that come about and what type of work do you undertake? 

So back in 2012, I lost my sight in my right eye, due to a disease. I was in the process of potentially getting discharged from the British Army.

So I gave myself a kick up the butt, and thought I wanted to work for myself instead of anyone else. Then South West Survival was born. I offer Bushcraft & Survival skills, zombie experience, military tactics, navigation training. However, luckily for me, the British Army kept me on, and I run my company alongside.

What’s the one thing people should do if they ever find themselves in a survival situation? 

Stop. Take a deep breath, and breathe. Assess the situation before panicking.

What’s one tool, you should never leave your home without? 

Your knife is your life. Remember you are only as sharp as your knife.

What’s the most hostile testing ground on offer in the UK? 

Most definitely the highlands of Scotland, you have all the weather and terrain.

You’ve had the opportunity to train numerous countries armed forces in survival skills, how did that come about, and how does each nation adapt to the situations you teach them for? 

So I am a military SERE (Survive, Evade, Resist, Extract) instructor and every year, I get requested to train units and nations every year, and its a great experience. Each nation has totally different skill sets because of how they train there in countries.

Survival experts are known for eating some pretty disgusting things, what’s the worst thing you’ve had to tuck into? 

I eat ANYTHING!!! Nothing has really been disgusting, to be honest. However, I’ve had goats brain and it was a weird texture that made me squeamish.

If you get some time off and go on holiday, do you prefer a survival holiday, a beach getaway or cultural trip? 

I prefer adventure. Stuff like skiing, climbing, exploring. I am not one to sit around a pool.

If you were stuck on a desert island, what three items would you bring with you? 

Tarp, a knife and a pot.

If people want to check out some of your awesome work, where can they find you? 

I am on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok as @Survival_ste.