Subject: Is it possible to create a makeshift life-raft out of human corpses?

I saw this done on a movie made by HBO the other day, and HBO tends to be
historically accurate.  2 soldiers were stranded on an island, and they bound
corpses together with wooden planks making a liferaft and floated to another
island. Wouldn't animals catch the scent of death from the rotting flesh in the
water, and tear the corpses to shreds?  I just wondered if (a) it was even
possible- wouldn't human flesh rot in salt-water? and (b), had it ever been done
before in history or sailor's tales of shipwrecking horror?  Thank you.

Re: Is it possible to create a makeshift life-raft out of human corpses?