Coast Guard Rescue on Alaska's High Seas | Rogue Wave | 2

Summary

Against The Odds – "Coast Guard Rescue on Alaska's High Seas | Rogue Wave | 2"

Episode Summary & Deep Dive

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Main Theme & Episode Purpose

This gripping episode chronicles the harrowing true story of five fishermen stranded at sea after their vessel, the LeConte, sinks during a vicious Alaskan storm in January 1998. As they cling to survival in 40-degree waters amid 60-foot waves, a US Coast Guard helicopter crew from Sitka races against monstrous weather and dwindling hope to attempt a dramatic night rescue. The episode immerses listeners both in the fishermen’s dire struggle and the rescuers’ immense operational challenges, ultimately spotlighting human resilience and the razor’s edge between life and death in brutal conditions.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Sinking & Immediate Aftermath

• (00:00–05:02) The episode opens with vivid dramatization: Bob Doyle and four crewmates, roped together in survival suits, plunge into roaring, freezing seas after their fishing vessel sinks.
• Bob immediately loses grip on the critical EPIRB (emergency radio beacon), crucial for their potential rescue, but manages to recover it after a struggle.

  “Bob paddles, desperately, feeling the tug of the rope... Just when the rope is taut and he can swim no farther, he’s able to grab the EPIRB and pull it free.”
  — Narrator (Mike Corey), (03:57)

• The LeConte fully disappears beneath the waves, leaving the men adrift and isolated.

2. Survival at Sea: Physical and Emotional Descent

• (12:31–14:18) The men endure relentless battering by waves; exhaustion and cold quickly set in, compounded by equipment failures. One man’s flotation collar doesn’t inflate, leading his skin to turn blue as hypothermia sets in.
• Amid dire circumstances, humor emerges as a coping mechanism:

  “You’re not blind, dumbass, your hair is just covering your face.”
  — Crewmember to Mike, (14:00) “Honest to God, if we do make it through this, I’m cutting your hair, you damn hippie.”
  — Bob Doyle (14:13)

3. The Coast Guard Prepares for a Rescue

• (05:22–09:15) At the Sitka Air Station, Lieutenant Bill Addix, pilot Dan Molden, rescue swimmer Rich Sansone, and flight mechanic Sean Witherspoon ready their H-60 Jayhawk helicopter.
• The mission initially seems like routine hurricane flying, possibly just another EPIRB false alarm.
• Upon departure, the team faces winds up to 80 mph/tailwinds propelling them towards the signal—much faster than typical:

  “You’re not gonna believe it. Try me. 225 knots.”
  — Molden to Addix (11:03)

4. Search and Location

• (15:50–16:35) The Jayhawk crew battles treacherous weather—near-zero visibility, extreme turbulence—navigating only by GPS and faint flashes from the EPIRB.
• The helicopter’s advanced features (floodlights, night vision) are nearly neutralized by the blizzard.

5. Individual Struggles and Loss

• (13:02–13:49) Dave Hanlon’s survival suit fails, and despite efforts, the group loses him to the sea amid confusion and towering swells. The trauma and guilt among survivors is palpable:

  “In the end, all they can do is watch as the buoy ball is swept away in the waves and Dave Hanlon along with it.”
  — Narrator (19:00)

6. First Contact and Rescue Attempts

• (20:49–22:48) The Jayhawk crew eventually spots the survivors—four men, clinging together by rope and glowtape. The rescue crew is keenly aware they have never faced conditions this bad.

  “There’s people in the water… I see the glowtape on their survivors.”
  — Addix & Sansone (21:24–21:28)

• (23:53–25:38) The sight of the helicopter renews hope among the fishermen:

  “That’s an H-60 Jayhawk. That’s the Coast Guard’s finest. We’re gonna get out of here soon, guys. Hold on.”
  — Fishermen, (24:27)

7. Technical and Environmental Obstacles to Rescue

• (27:01–29:07) Multiple attempts to lower the rescue basket fail as waves and wind hurl it far from the survivors, nearly causing catastrophic helicopter mishaps.

  “The basket... sails backwards, parallel to the helicopter. The wind is catching it, sending it dangerously close to the Jayhawk’s tail rotor. If the hoist cable gets snagged in the rotor blades, they’ll crash for sure.”
  — Narrator (27:10)

• Exhaustion and equipment failures mount aboard the Jayhawk—the rescue basket cable becomes tangled, and flight mechanic Witherspoon is pushed to the point of vomiting from exertion.

8. Desperation and Human Reflection

• (31:38–33:46) As their hopes wane, the fishermen internally confront their past, regrets, and relationships, with Mike Dicapua thinking about daughters he hasn’t seen in 19 years.
• The rescuers debate risking a lower flight path (to 80 ft above the waves) to get the basket closer.

  “We need to fly lower. I’d say 80 ft... We’ll never be able to get the basket close otherwise.”
  — Addix (33:46)

• Addix—a former Marine Corp pilot—takes the controls for a daring descent.

9. Catastrophic Rogue Wave & Forced Withdrawal

• (35:30–38:15) A rogue wave, at least 100 ft tall, nearly engulfs both the survivors and the helicopter. The Jayhawk is violently thrown nearly a mile from the survivors, the cable frayed, flight mechanic incapacitated, and the helicopter dangerously low on fuel.

  “He looks up through the top of the windshield and sees the flare 20 ft above them. It’s at the top of a massive rogue wave, and it’s about to come crashing down right on top.”
  — Narrator (35:33)

• Addix, devastated, makes the call all Coast Guard commanders dread: to return to base and call for a second helicopter.

  “Well, boys, I’m calling it. We gotta go home.”
  — Addix (39:01)

10. Aftermath: Hope, Abandonment, and Uncertainty

• (40:57–41:08) The Jayhawk soars over the survivors one last time, not stopping. The fishermen, left in the freezing sea, feel a new wave of betrayal and desolation, particularly Bob, who’s already struggled with past Coast Guard rejection.

  “It’s like the Coast Guard is abandoning him all over again. First they kicked him out at the lowest point in his life, and now they’re leaving him out here to die.”
  — Narrator (41:08)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Inhuman Conditions:

  “Bob surfaces, sputtering, and looks around in the darkness for the LeConte. He knows they have to swim clear of her before she sinks. If they don’t, they could be sucked down. Down with the ship.”
  — Narrator (00:42)

• Black Humor Amidst Despair:

  “You’re not blind, dumbass, your hair is just covering your face.”
  — (14:00)

• Guilt and Regret at Death’s Door:

  “She’s four months pregnant. I’m never going to see my kid… Hey, you’ll see him. You just gotta hang on. Mark, Coasties will be here any minute.”
  — Mark Morley (22:48)

• Operational Risk and Professional Discipline:

  “If we send you out in a sea state like that, we might not…”
  — Addix, stopping Sansone from deploying as rescue swimmer in impossible seas (26:10)

• Moment of Impossible Decision:

  “Well, boys, I’m calling it. We gotta go home.”
  — Addix (39:01)

• Despair and Abandonment:

  “It’s like the Coast Guard is abandoning him all over again.”
  — Narrator on Bob Doyle (41:08)

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Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | Details | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Abandonment of the LeConte | Fishermen enter the frigid sea | | 03:04 | Lost and recovered EPIRB | The hope for rescue hangs in the balance | | 05:22 | Coast Guard preps rescue | Aircrew personalities and backgrounds | | 11:03 | Realization of tailwind speeds | Danger and opportunity combine | | 13:49 | Hanlon’s flotation failure, peril, and loss | First crew member presumed lost | | 20:49 | First helicopter sighting and survivor location | Renewed hope | | 27:01 | First failed basket deployment | Technical and environmental obstacles | | 35:30 | Rogue wave crisis | Escalation and near disaster for all parties | | 39:01 | Decision to abort rescue | Crew depletion, equipment failure, low fuel | | 41:08 | Helicopter departs; survivors left behind | Emotional nadir of the episode |

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Closing Reflection

The episode’s narrative, switching between the battered survivors and the equally tested rescuers, authentically captures the chaos, danger, and emotion in a high-seas disaster where every minute counts. Listeners walk away with an immersive appreciation for the fine line separating tragedy from survival, the heroics and limits of rescue, and the deeply human moments that emerge when all control is lost.

Transcript

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of against the Odds ad free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. Against the Odds uses dramatizations that are based on true events. Some elements, including dialogue, may be invented, but everything is based on research. Bob Doyle hits the water hard. Or rather the the water hits him. It's so cold that it knocks the wind out of him. Even wearing an insulated survival suit, he can feel his fingers and toes going numb as his momentum carries him under the waves. It's just after 7pm on January 30, 1998, well past dark here, 60 miles off the coast of Alaska. Bob is part of a group of five fishermen whose ship, the leconte, is sinking in the midst of the worst storm he's ever seen. The Leconti had no life raft on board, so Bob and his crewmates were forced to abandon ship. They roped themselves together to make sure they're not separated and jumped into the ocean, which is churning with waves the size of five story buildings. Bob surfaces, sputtering, and looks around in the darkness for the leconti. He knows they have to swim clear of her before she sinks. If they don't, they could be sucked down. Down with the ship. He spins around, treading water until he spots her. The old schooner is now lying on her side, half submerged. Her lights are still on, casting an eerie greenish yellow glow across the waves. Then a wave slams into Bob and his crewmates from behind. Bob feels helpless against the force of it. It's like he's being hit by a speeding truck and it's propelling him forward, right into the LeConte's overturned hull.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Watch out.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Bob bounces off the wooden hull and is forced back underwater. He holds his breath till his lungs feel like they're about to explode. He's spinning inside the wave, unsure which way is up or down. Then his head pops up above the wa the bitter cold wind and the stinging sleet. Fresh air never tasted so good. He hears Captain Mark Morley's voice from about 10ft away, the length of rope between each man.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Everyone sound off. GIGGY I'm here. Mike here. Dave. Dave Sound off Damn it. I'm here. Bob. Bob.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Bob doesn't answ because in that moment he realizes he's lost something. The emergency radio beacon or epirb. The last wave must have torn the flashlight sized device from his grasp.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

BOB Damn it, sound off. I'm here, Cap, but I can't find the EPIRB.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Then the EPIRB's strobe light flashes and he sees it, and it's floating just a few feet away, attached to a length of rope. But that rope has gotten tangled with the LeConte's rigging.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

I see it.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Bob starts swimming towards the EPIRB, but it's a struggle because they're all roped together. He's essentially pulling the other four men behind him.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Everyone swim with me.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Bob paddles, desperately, feeling the tug of the rope around his waist. He knows that in a storm this bad, without the epir, the Coast Guard might never find them. Just when the rope is taut and he can swim no farther, he's able to grab the EPIRB and pull it free.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

I've got it.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Morley shouts over the storm.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Good. Now tie that damn thing to yourself before you lose it again. Then Giggy Mor calls out, look, boys, there she goes.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Bob turns and sees the last few feet of the LeConte's HUL bobbing above the waves. Then, slowly, without a sound, it sinks. The men can only watch as her lights disappear into the depths, leaving them alone in the cold, storm tossed sea.

[C]

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[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

From Audible Originals. I'm Mike Corey and this is against the Odds. On January 30, 1998, a fishing vessel called the Lac sank far off the coast of southeastern Alaska in the middle of a massive storm. Its five man crew was forced to abandon ship in neoprene survival suits with flotation collars, the suits would keep them warm and dry up to a point. But with water temperatures hovering around 40 degrees Fahrenheit and waves up to 60ft tall, it was only a matter of time before they would start succumbing to the elements. Their only hope of rescue was a Coast Guard air station in Sitka, 150 miles away. Ironically, one of the five fishermen, Bob Doyle, had served at that station less than a year before. He'd been kicked out of the Coast Guard for drinking and missing work after a devastating divorce. Now Bob and his crewmates would have to hang on until a rescue helicopter could somehow pluck them out of the water in winds gusting over 70 miles per hour. This is episode two Rogue Wave. Lieutenant Bill Addix steps into the hangar of the Coast Guard air station in Sitka. Dressed in his blue flight suit, he strides over to his pilot Lt. Dan Molden, who's talking with a mechanic next to one of the station's three helicopters. Hey, Dan. Ready for some pre flight checks?

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Yep.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Let's do it. They climb into the cockpit and begin running through their checklists, making sure every instrument is working on their H60 Jayhawk helicopter. It's a procedure each man has performed hundreds of times. Before joining the Coast Guard, Adducks flew helicopters in the marine Corps for 12 years. Molden cut his teeth in the Navy flying night missions off aircraft carriers. So Addix is feeling calm and focused. Tonight's mission, as far as he knows, should just be another day at the office. They'll be flying into a big offshore storm front to check on an EPIRB signal. The Coast Guard picked it up about 45 minutes ago on fair weather ground 150 miles to the northwest. Because the storm hasn't reached land yet, details on its size and strength are sketchy. But here at the base, winds are topping out at just 30 miles per hour. A light breeze by Alaska standards. Their helicopter, the H60 Jayhawk, is a seven ton flying tank with twin engines sporting nearly 2,000 horsepower each. There's not much mother nature can throw at it that it can't handle. Tonight, Attucks is serving as mission commander and navigator, while Mulvin is pilot. They're also joined by a rescue swimmer, Rich Sansone, and a flight mechanic, Sean Witherspoon, whose main job is to operate the winch for the rescue basket. Sansone and Witherspoon sit in the back and communicate with the cockpit via headset. Attucks hears Sansone's voice in his ear now. Anyone want to bet this is another false alarm? Attucks knows what he means. More often than not, EPIRBs are activated by accident. Coast Guard rescuers usually arrive on scene only to find a crew of fishermen busy at work, oblivious to the alarm. Sometimes they find an EPIRB floating by itself, accidentally dropped overboard. But they've got to take each call seriously. I'm not taking that bet.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Rich.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Dan. Hey, how we lookin'? Ready for takeoff. Okay, let's take her out. Molden taxis the Jayhawk out of the hangar and onto a short Runway. Rain streaks the windshield. Once they're sure all their navigation systems look good, Molden fires up the main rotor, lifts the Jayhawk a few feet off the ground and guns the engines. In seconds, the helicopter is rising into the sky, leaving the air station behind. Almost immediately, a stiff crosswind blows them sideways. Mol then skillfully let levels them out Again. But it's clear that conditions are going to be a lot windier than they anticipated. As they fly away from shore, the driving rain turns to sleet and snow, limiting visibility to a few hundred yards. Fortunately, they can navigate by gps, and the Jayhawk is equipped with powerful floodlights. The crew also has night vision goggles. They head west out of Sitka Sound, then turn north around a cape and out towards open sea. As soon as they're past the mountain that guards the cape, they're hammered by even stronger winds. Attucks watches Molden wrestle with the controls, trying to keep the helicopter level and on course. Stay on this heading, Dan. I'm trying. Molden twists the helicopter this way and that, trying to stabilize it. Finally, he catches a tailwind and the Jayhawk takes off like a bucking bronco. Attix looks down at the wind speed indicator gauge and his eyes go wide. It reads 40 knots then. And the gauge keeps climbing all the way to 75. That's over 80 miles per hour. And these aren't gusts. These are sustained winds. Addict's first thought is that the gauge must be broken. He calls out to Molden, what's our true airspeed right now? You're not gonna believe it. Try me. 225 knots. Attuck's Whistles that's over 250 miles per faster than the Jayhawk can fly on its own. That 80 mile per hour tailwind means they'll reach Fair Weather ground in record time. About 15 minutes. But if this EPIRB signal is real and not a false alarm, how are they going to rescue anyone with the wind blowing this hard? Mike DiCapua squeezes his mouth and eyes closed as another monster wave barrels into them. He feels himself caught in its curl, spinning helplessly head over heels. Other bodies crash into his elbows and feet and heads, jabbing into his ribs. He wishes they had used a longer rope to tie themselves together. He comes up gasping for air and cries out, I'm sick of this.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

This sucks.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

A fresh wave seems to batter them every few seconds. They can't have been in the water longer than 15 minutes, but already it feels like an eternity. From somewhere behind him, he hears Giggy

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Mork call out, hey, guys, Dave's not doing so good.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Mike shouts back angrily, join the club.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

None of us are doing good. No. His collar. It didn't inflate. I think his suit's taking on water.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Mike turns and sees Gigi holding up David Hanlon from behind. Even before the abandoned ship, Hanlon was already weak. From seasickness. Without the inflatable collar on his survival suit, he's struggling to keep his head above water. In the flash of the EPIRB strobe, Mike can see Hanlon's skin has a bluish tint.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Sorry, Gigi, I did not.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Another breaking wave drives them all under again. Mike closes his eyes. He knows from years of fishing that if you get too much salt water in your eyes, they can swell shut. But this time, when he resurfaces and opens his eyes, everything stays black.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

I can't see. Jesus, I can't see. I'm blind.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

For a moment, Mike panics. Has the ocean water blinded him already? But then he hears someone laughing.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

You're not blind, dumbass.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Your hair is just covering your face. Mike reaches up and wipes his long hair out of his eyes. The first thing he sees is a grinning Bob Doyle.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Honest to God, if we do make it through this, I'm cutting your hair, you damn hippie.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

For a little while they trade insults, which actually starts to make Mike Mike feel a bit better. Then another wave carries them under and he wonders how much longer they'll have to hang on before rescue comes. Lieutenant Bill Addix tries to type commands into the Jayhawk helicopter's onboard computer, but it's bucking so much that his fingers keep missing the buck buttons. It's a little after 8pm and they've just arrived at the last known location of the epirb. Addix is trying to program the helicopter's autopilot system to fly in a standard search pattern, but it's taking him forever with all this turbulence. Pilot Dan Molden has them flying about 300ft above sea level over fair weather ground. He slowed down as much as he can, but they still have an 80 mile an hour tailwind. Normally they could see the ocean from this height, but even with their night vision goggles, it's pitch black outside the cockpit windows. The goggles can only enhance ambient light, and right now there isn't any. It's just driving snow, sleet and darkness. Attucks checks his direction finder, an instrument designed to home in on the EPIRB signal. He sees that it's lighting up. Hey, we got a hit.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Where? We just flew right over it.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Turn us around. But in this ferocious wind, that's easier said than done. Mole then jams the stick over as far as it'll go and the helicopter begins to turn. But now the wind is shoving it sideways, blowing them even farther away from the signal. Attics yells instinctively turn.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Turn. I'm trying.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Attucks can see sweat trickling from under Molden's helmet, but finally he gets the helicopter turned squarely into the wind and begins creeping back towards the signal. When they're close, Attucks speaks again over the headset. I can't see anything from this altitude.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Can you take us down to 200?

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Taking us down. When they're at 200ft, Attucks switches on the Jayhawk's powerful floodlight. Now, through curtains of snow, hail and sleet, he can faintly make out the ocean below him. Him. And what he sees astonishes him. Huge waves churn past below them, fast moving and mountainous. Attucks guesses that the biggest ones are 60ft tall, maybe more. Occasionally they crash into each other, sending spray so high into the air it's practically clipping the bottom of the helicopter. Somewhere down there is the epirb. He should be able to spot its strobe light from this altitude, but so far he sees no trace of it or of whatever ship it might have come from.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Bob. Bob, Help me.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Bob Doyle yanks on the rope line, holding the men together, following the sound of Captain Mark Morley's voice. Between the darkness and the height of the waves, he keeps losing sight of the others. Finally he sees the skipper, who calls out weakly.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

You gotta help me, Bob. My suit. It's taking on water. I can't feel my legs.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Bob swims over to the captain and wraps his arms around him from behind, trying to prop him up. The way Giggy Mork has been holding up Dave Hanley, the skipper is shaking uncontrollably.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Hey, don't worry, Skip. I got you, okay?

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Just then, a massive wave slams down on them, shoving both men underwater. Bob holds his breath. Then he pops back to the surface and grabs hold of Morley again. He's coughing up seawater. Bob looks around and can't see the others. He shouts over the wind and waves.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

SOUND off MIKE Here, Giggy. Here. Hanlon. Hanlon. Sound off Giggy Is Hanlon with you? I lost him in that wave. Dave, where the hell are you? Damn it? Dave. Dave. Dave. Dave.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

All the men join in, shouting Dave Hanlon's name. Even the weakened Morley cries it out. But there's no response. Then, in the flash of the EPIRB strobe, Bob sees something. One of the buoy balls they tied to each end of their rope has come loose and is floating away. He realizes that it's the ball that was closest to Hanlon. Gigi sees the ball too, and starts swimming toward it. But each time he gets close, the current pulls the ball away. And if Hanlon is still attached to it, they haven't seen him surface for several minutes. In the end, all they can do is watch as the buoy ball is swept away in the waves and Dave Hanlon along with it. Lieutenant Bill Addix stares through his night vision goggles at the chaotic sea below. They're homing in on the EPIRB signal, but pilot Dan Molvin can only inch forward into the gale force headwinds. Occasionally they hit turbulence and the helicopter rises or plummets 100ft in an instant. Attucks feels his stomach lurch with each sudden change in altitude. They've turned off their so called night sun floodlight because it was bouncing off the snow and sleet and the glare was blinding Molven. Now Attucks can barely see anything except for the occasional white cap of an especially large wave. But then something catches his eye.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

There.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

I see a flash. Where? Forward and left, 10 degrees. Mulden follows the directions and Attucks sees another strobe flash. He's sure now that it's the epirb, but he can't yet tell if there's anything else down there. For all he knows, it's just floating alone, accidentally dropped from some passing ship. But then in the next flash, he sees shapes in the water. At first he can't tell what he's seeing. It just looks like a bunch of faintly glowing lines. Then it hits him.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

There's people in the water.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Are you sure?

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

I see the glowtape on their survivors.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Looks like four, maybe five. Over his headset, Attucks tells the flight mechanic, Sean Witherspoon, to get the rescue basket ready. He's never attempted a water rescue in conditions this extreme, and he's guessing no one on his crew has either. But they've got to try. Bob Doyle props up Mark Morley as they ride over the crest of another wave. Bob can tell from the weight that the captain's suit is definitely taking on water. His shivering has gotten worse and he's slipping in and out of consciousness. Bob slaps Morley's cheek to try to keep him awake. Mark. Mark.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Mark. Stay with me.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Stay with me, buddy. Mark's eyes fly open, but they're not focused on anything.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Where are you?

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Bob remembers that Tamara is Mark's fiance. He met her and her daughter when Mark took them all whale watching. His heart breaks for the captain. She's not here, Mark. But you're gonna see her again soon, okay? I Promise. But now Mark begins sobbing.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

She's four months pregnant. I've never gonna see my kid fall. Hey, you'll see him. You just gotta hang on. Mark Cosis will be here any minute.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

But he's not sure he believes it himself. His thoughts flash to his own children and he wonders if he'll ever get to watch them grow up. Another wave hits them, knocking them underwater. When they resurface, Mark's face is a picture of anguish.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I never should have brought you guys here. Mark, come on, man, don't talk like that. No, no, no, it's true. It's true. I'm the skipper. This is all my fault.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

From somewhere in the darkness, Bob hears Mike Dicapua call out, cap.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Screw that, man. We're in this together. Don't give up on us now, dammit. Keep fighting. We need you. Don't give up on us. Help's almost here.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Giggy Mork joins Mike in shouting words of encouragement. But Morley looks weak and defeated. Bob realizes he might not be able to hang on much longer. And then he hears something barely audible over the thundering waves. The roar of engines. He squints upward through the driving sleet, then points.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Guys, look.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Everyone cranes their heads and they see it. A blinking light. Faint, but getting closer.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

That's. That's an 860 Jayhawk. That's the Coast Guard's finest. We're gonna get out of here soon. Guys. Hold on. Over here. Down here. They found us.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

They found. The arrival of the helicopter lifts everyone's spirits. Even Morley perks up. Bob feels a surge of relief. Now they have have a fighting chance. But Bob doesn't tell the others what he's thinking. From his days in the Coast Guard, he knows that in a sea this turbulent, it could take the rescuers hours to get them out of the water. They're still a long way from being saved. Flight mechanic Sean Witherspoon braces himself, then slides open the Jayhawk's side door. As soon as he does, windblown sleet jabs his face like a thousand tiny needles. Every fiber in his body wants to recoil from the cold, but he wills himself to duck his head out of the door so he can look down at these surging waves below.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Yeah, I see them. Two people. Maybe three more.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

He hears Lieutenant Bill Addict's voice in his headset.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

We count four.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Drop a DMV and a flare to mark their position.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Roger.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

A DMB is a data marker buoy, essentially a backup in Case they lose both the EPIRB signal and visual contact with the survivors. While Witherspoon tosses it out, rescue swimmer Rich Sansone speaks up.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Mr. Attucks, should I prepare to deploy? Hell no, Rich.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

If we send you out in a sea state like that, we might not. After the marker buoy, Witherspoon drops one of the Jayhawk's five water activated flares. The wind catches it almost instantly, and he can't even see where it comes down. Attucks orders him to drop another one, and this time it gets close enough to the survivors that they can proceed with the rescue basket. Witherspoon grunts with effort as he hauls the basket into position and clips it to the hoist cable. The basket is made of stainless steel on Both ends, about 4ft long and 2ft wide, just big enough for one person to comfortably sit inside it. Witherspoon feels himself sweating under his flight suit as he slides the 40 pound basket to the edge of the open helicopter door.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Ready to hoist. Okay, Sean, deploy hoist.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Witherspoon shoves the basket out of the door.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Basket's away.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

But instead of dropping, dropping straight down, the basket sails backwards, parallel to the helicopter. The wind is catching it, sending it dangerously close to the Jayhawk's tail rotor. If the hoist cable gets snagged in the rotor blades, they'll crash for sure. Frantically, Witherspoon hauls the basket back in. Clearly, this isn't going to be a typical basket deployment. Witherspoon needs to try something else. He addresses the pilot, Dan Movin.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Dan, take us forward 200. 200ft. Are you sure? Yeah. The basket, it's flapping around like a kite in this wind. We gotta get upwind of the survivors.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Witherspoon waits until the survivors are well behind them. Then he picks up the heavy basket and hurls it out of the door with all of his might. As soon as that's done, he begins playing out the hoist cable as fast as it'll go. The motorized winch does most of the work of lowering the basket and raising it again, but for Witherspoon, it's still a workout. He has to sling the cable over his shoulder so it won't hit the edge of the door frame, which would cause it to fray. Then, by gripping the cable, he can exert some control over where the basket comes down. It's a skill he's honed over hundreds of hours of training and live rescue, requiring a combination of delicate touch and of brute strength. Witherspoon notes with satisfaction that the basket is now well clear of the helicopter's tail rotor. He keeps playing out the cable until

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

he sees a splash basket is in the water.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

But just seconds later, a huge wave catches the basket and sweeps it out of sight. The cable goes taut and the winch mechanism screeches.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Ah, damn it.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Rich Sansone, the rescue swimmer, calls out, need help, Sean?

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

No, I got it. We need you on altimeter and comms.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Operating the rescue basket hoists is supposed to be a one person job. Sansone has other responsibilities, and Witherspoon doesn't want to break protocol by asking for help. Besides, he can bench press 300 pounds even when the winch is malfunctioning or maxed out. He should be able to haul in the basket on his own, but he's never felt resistance like this. It's like the. The entire ocean is fighting him. Finally, with all of his strength, he pulls the basket free of the water. But when he looks for the survivors, he sees they've been swept another hundred yards away. He'll have to reel in the basket and try again. With sweat now pouring down his face, Witherspoon retrieves the basket, then calls out instructions to Molvin to get them in position for the next talk. Witherspoon is already exhausted, but he refuses to give up until all of those men are out of the water. Mike Decapoa watches with growing frustration as the rescue basket whips around above their heads, flapping in the wind like a torn sail. By now, he's lost count of how many times the Coast Guard rescuers have attempted to drop it. Half of the time, it hits the water hundreds, hundreds of feet from the fishermen. Other times, they can't even get it lowered all the way before they have to reel it back in. Mike calls out to Bob Doyle.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Hey, Bob, what the hell is wrong with these coasty friends of yours?

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Don't they know what they're doing?

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

I know, but this wind is. This wind is crazy. They're doing the best they can.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

The basket flaps around some more. Then, amazingly, it starts heading straight toward them.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Bob shouts, everyone be careful, okay? This thing is heavier than it looks. If it hits you in the head, it's gonna kill you. Let it hit the water first.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

The men paddle furiously to get out of the basket's path. It lands right next to them for just a split second, but then it bounces off the ocean surface like a skipping stone across a pond. Moments later, it's out of reach. Mike snarls in frustration.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

This is friggin insane. They're never gonna get again.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

He hears Bob's voice.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

We just have to be patient, okay? They know what they're doing.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Mike takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He's not used to feeling this way. So helpless and terrified. All of his life Mike has never been afraid of danger. He ran away from home when he was 13, desperate not to end up like his father who was stuck in a dead end factory job. He traveled the country by hopping freight trains, did some jail time for burglary and won and lost his fair share of bar fights. He's lived in the moment with no fear and no regrets. That's what he loves about fishing. When he's coiling line and hauling in a catch, he's not thinking about anything else. He's completely present. But now that he's floating here amid 60 foot waves, staring death in the face, he finds himself looking back at his life and wishing he'd done so many things differently. He wishes he'd drunk less. He wishes he'd been better to his ex wife. Above all, he wishes he'd kept in touch with his daughters. How long has it been since he's seen them? 19 years. He tries to imagine them grown up but he can't picture it. Then another wave sweeps him under and all Mike can think of about is holding his breath. In the cockpit of the Jayhawk, Lieutenant Bill Addix hears rescue swimmer Rich Sandstone's voice over his headset. Mr. Addix, Witherspoon needs a break. He's pretty wrung out. Copy, Dan. Take us up to 350ft. We need to regroup. They've been attempting to rescue the men in the water for over an hour now, but so far they haven't been able to get the basket anywhere near them for more than a few seconds. Between the wind and the waves, it's beginning to feel impossible. They need to try something different. He turns to pilot Dan Movin.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

We need to fly lower. I'd say 80ft. We'll never be able to get the basket close otherwise.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Molten shakes his head.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

I don't know, Bill. Sounds dangerous.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

You've seen how big some of these waves are.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

I know, but look, if you're not comfortable, I understand. Why don't I take the controls then?

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

When he was a Marine Corps helicopter pilot, Attucks flew plenty of low altitude night missions. So Molden agrees. Attucks will fly the Jayhawk. On the co pilot seat. Attucks relays the plan to Sean Witherspoon and Rich sandstone. Then takes the helicopter down. He can see the waves looming dangerously close, close to the Jayhawk's underside. But when they get too close, Sansone warns him using the altimeter, and he's able to pull it up in time. The first basket drop is their closest, yet still not close enough for the men to reach it. But Attucks is encouraged. At this lower altitude, Witherspoon is able to work more quickly, giving them more cracks at hitting a bullseye. Finally, on their fifth attempt, Addict hears Witherspoon over his headset.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Basket is in the water. Got to be within 15ft. Ah, damn it. I lost him.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Attic scans the water through his night vision goggles. No, I'm not seeing them either. But there is one of our flares, so they got to be close. Attics tracks the path of the flare as it rides up the face of a wave. The green glowing light rises and rocks, rises and then disappears. It must have burnt out. He's about to tell Witherspoon to deploy another one when Sansone's voice comes screeching through his headset.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Altitude, altitude. Up, up, up.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Then Attix realizes what's really happening. He leans forward and looks up through the top of the windshield and sees the flare 20ft above them. It's at the top of a massive rogue wave, and it's about to come crashing down right on top. Bob Doyle can't believe what he's seeing. The Coast Guard helicopter is now below them. He and his crewmates are getting swept up the face of a monster wave. It must be at least 100ft tall, and it feels like it's about to send them hurtling down smack into the helicopter's road blades. They'd be sliced to pieces right before the chopper gets crushed like a beer can. He hears the other men screaming, but finds that he can't make a sound. Everything seems to be happening in slow motion. From this angle, he can see right into the Jayhawk's cockpit. He can make out the pilots helmets, but not their faces. He wonders if he knows them from his Coast Guard days. Then the helicopter disappears behind the wave. Bob realizes he and the other other men have been carried over the crest and are now careening down the wave's backside. With a thundering crash, the wave breaks. Bob looks around and is amazed to see that they're all still together, still tied to their rope. Then he hears Mike Decapua shout, where is the chopper? Bob looks around and sure enough, the Jayhawk is gone. He hopes the wave didn't Swallow it. He hates to think that anyone from Sitka Air Station could die trying to rescue him. Also, he realizes if the helicopter really did crash, then their chances of being rescued have likely crashed with it. Lieutenant Bill Adducks pulls back as hard as he can on the collective stick, trying to bring the nose of the Jayhawk down. But it's no use. As soon as the rogue wave broke, they found themselves caught in a ferocious updraft, which pitched the helicopter back on its tail like a rearing horse. Now they're being blown backwards in a hurricane force headwind. Dan Molvin yells something from the seat next to him.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

Level us out. I'm trying.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Finally, the wind dies down and Attucks regains control. He checks their marker buoy signal and is shocked to see they've been blown roughly 4,000ft from the survivors. Almost a mile over his headset, Attucks hears rescue swimmer Rich Sandstone.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

What the hell was that? You guys almost got us killed. Hey, Sandstone, take it easy. That's an order.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Once everyone's gathered themselves, addicts take stock of their situation. And it's not looking good. Sandstone reports that when they were blown backwards, the rescue basket was still deployed. And during that rough ride, the hoist cable got hopelessly tangled. When they try reeling it in, it gets frayed and knotted in the hoist mechanism.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

And that's not all.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

Sir Witherspoon, he's. Well, I think he's done. What do you mean done? He's puking his guts out right now. I think he just overexerted himself. They discuss their options. With no flight mechanic and no hoist cable, they can't lower the basket again. And they can't deploy their rescue swimmer, Sansone, because with no cable, they have no way of getting him back. Finally, Attucks says the words no Coast Guard rescue commander ever wants to say. Well, boys, I'm calling it. We gotta go home. No one responds. Attucks knows that his crew is stunned. Coast Guard teams never leave people in the water. But they've got no choice. They've given it all that they can. Plus, their fuel is getting low. If they don't leave now, they could wind up in need of rescue, too. Attucks hands the controls back over to Dan Molden and tells Sansone to get Witherspoon some fluids and pack him into a hypothermia bag. He'll probably need medical attention when they get back to base. He also tells Sansone to radio the air station and request a second helicopter. Their comms out here are spotty, but hopefully Sansone can still get through. And then, reluctantly, he gives Mol then a compass heading that will take them home. Bob Doyle feels another flicker of hope when he sees the helicopter flying back towards them. Them. They're still here. The wave didn't crush them, but when the Jayhawk reaches them, it doesn't stop. It flies right past. And it keeps going. Mike DiCapoa curses as it passes.

[Characters (Bob Doyle, Mike DiCapua, Captain Mark Morley, Lieutenant Bill Addix, Dan Molden, Rich Sansone, Sean Witherspoon, Giggy Mork, Dave Hanlon)]

What the hell man? You're the friggin Coast Guard. You can't just leave us here. Bob, what the hell are they doing? They must just be low on fuel. Okay, they'll come back.

[Narrator (Mike Corey)]

But inside he feels his anger welling up. Mike is right. They're just leaving. It's like the Coast Guard is abandoning him all over again. First they kicked him out at the lowest point of his life, and now they're leaving him out here to die. Not for the first time in this whole ordeal, Bob finds himself craving a drink. A strong Bob. Mark Morley's voice snaps him out of it. The skipper has stopped shivering now, a sure sign that hypothermia is taking hold. Bob pulls him closer and leans into his ears so Morley can hear him over the waves. Hey Mark. It's okay, all right? I'm here. Why? Why did they leave? They'll be back. And when they get here, I'm gonna make sure you're the first one up. I promise. Bob keeps talking like that, murmuring reassurances into Mark Morley's ear. Truthfully, he's trying to reassure himself too. They'll come back for them. They have to heal. Follow against the Odds on the Audible app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to all episodes of against the Odds ad free by joining Audible. From Audible Originals. This is episode two of our three part series, Coast Guard Rescue on Alaska's High Speed. A quick note about our scenes. In most cases, we can't exactly know what was said, but everything is based on historical research. If you'd like to learn more about this event, we recommend the books the Last Run by Todd Lewin and Coming Back Alive by Spike Walker. You can also listen to the audiobook version of Coming Back Alive right now on Audible. Produced by Audible. I'm your host Mike Corey. Andy Herman wrote this episode. Our editor is Steve Fenasey. Sound design by Joe Richardson engineered by Sergio Enriquez Original theme music Scott Velasquez and 2K for Freeze N Sync Fact checking by Alyssa Jung Perry Produced by Emily Frost Managing Producer Desi Blaylock Senior producers Andy Herman and Austin rapper executive producer for Audible Jenny Lauer Beckman, head of creative development at Audible Kate Navin, head of Audible Originals North America Marshall Louie, Chief Content Officer Rachel Giazza Copyright 2026 by Audible Originals, LLC Sound Recording Copyright 2026 by Audible Original.