The Promise: How an everyday hero made the impossible possible

Arnold Dix became an unlikely hero when he promised to save forty-one men trapped after a tunnel collapse in the Himalayas. This is his unforgettable story.

In rural Victoria, Arnold Dix is known to locals as a farmer and a part-time truck driver. But his name reached global recognition when he played a pivotal role in rescuing forty-one Indian workers trapped after a deadly tunnel collapse. What many don’t know is that Arnold is also a barrister, scientist, engineer – a ‘quirky’ Aussie bloke who proves that extraordinary courage can come from the most unexpected places.

In vivid detail, Arnold recounts the unlikely rescue that transformed him into a global hero. He reflects on the extraordinary challenges he faced, culminating in his unwavering promise: `Forty-one men are coming home alive.’

But his incredible story goes far beyond this one remarkable event.

Arnold’s compassion also led him to assist thousands of migrant workers in Qatar, and his journey took him from surviving politically motivated assassination attempts in Albania to working in the tunnels of Ground Zero after 9/11. His story is one of steadfast courage, filled with themes of adventure, sacrifice and selflessness. It’s a tale that explores what it truly means to defy the odds and challenge the status quo in pursuit of the impossible.

© 2025 Simon & Schuster Australia (Audiobook): 9781761429187

Release date

Audiobook: January 28, 2025