Westtown’s David McIntyre has taken home half a million dollars after defeating nine other contestants to win a grueling reality show challenge by surviving 66 days alone on Vancouver Island, writes Adam Farence for Daily Local News.

History Channel’s TV show ‘Alone’ releases a group of people into the wilderness to survive on their own. Contestants build shelters, locate drinkable water and forage for every meal.

For McIntyre, the chance to participate in the show was a test of his skills as a survival instructor.

“It’s like someone offering an advanced degree in wilderness survival,” he said.

By day 45 McIntyre thought he had proved himself, but the lure of the prize money to help with his children’s education kept him in the game. He persevered for another three weeks even as his fellow competitors dropped out one by one.

As a post-apocalyptic survival specialist, McIntyre noted there was one big difference between the show and how he believes things would actually go in real life. In his experience, most people in this situation end up working together to ensure their survival rather than going it alone.

“Everyone giving their all in this situation helps people stay together and survive,” he noted.

Read more about David McIntyre at Daily Local News here.