Miracle in the North Atlantic | The Dark Ocean | 1

Summary

Against The Odds

Episode Title: Miracle in the North Atlantic | The Dark Ocean | 1
Host: Mike Corey (Wondery)
Release Date: December 9, 2025

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Overview

This gripping episode introduces one of Iceland's most haunting survival stories. Host Mike Corey takes listeners deep into the freezing waters of the North Atlantic as the fishing trawler Helise VE503 sinks off the coast of Heimaey, Iceland, in March 1984. Through immersive dramatizations, Corey reconstructs the harrowing experience of Guðlaugur Friðþórsson (“Loye”), a gentle giant who must fight for survival when disaster strikes, leaving him and his crewmates at the mercy of the dark and icy ocean.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Stage: Life Aboard the Helise (00:28-05:00, 05:37-12:00)

• Listeners are introduced to Loye and his life as a fisherman on the desolate island of Heimaey, capturing his longing for a simple life and his strong bonds with fellow crew members (05:37).
• The show's dramatization brings to life the camaraderie and hardships of an Icelandic fishing crew, their banter, and the sense of routine that comes with life at sea.
  • Memorable scene: Loye comforting a seasick Varlur and improvising pancake breakfast, reflecting his good nature and resourcefulness (10:48-12:43).

Disaster Strikes: The Sinking of the Helise (02:46-04:31 & 13:18-15:31)

• Late into the chilly March night of 1984, the crew struggles with a dragnet repeatedly getting caught on the seabed (13:18).
• Abruptly, the trawler lurches, capsizing as the net snags again. Amidst chaos and confusion, the crew are thrown into the frigid, black ocean, separated and fighting for survival.
  • Dramatic moment: “The trawler is thrashing. Animal caught in a trap. Loye knows what’s happened … the dragnet has gotten stuck again and the boat is being held in place.” (02:46)

The Ordeal in the Water (19:17-37:43)

• Loye and the surviving crew are forced to confront the merciless cold (near 40°F/4°C), with hypothermia threatening to set in within 45 minutes (23:58).
• With no lifeboat or life jackets reachable, most of their hope rests on the Coast Guard realizing too late that something is wrong (23:58).
• Loye displays incredible mental and physical endurance, repeatedly keeping his fellow sailor Pater afloat and attempting to rally spirits. His clear-headedness inspires even the captain.
  • Quote: “Getting out of the water might buy some time before they become hypothermic. Loye still has the strength to push the captain up.” (23:58)
• The hopelessness deepens as one by one, the crew succumbs to exhaustion and cold: Loye pulls the nearly unconscious Pater, gives comfort and encouragement, but Pater eventually dies in his arms (32:28).
  • Quote: “Peter, when we make it, we’ll head straight for the hot spring. There’ll be fresh cake … TV cake … Yes, Peter, you like TV cake?” (31:07)
• The captain, Hjörtor, also fades away, leaving Loye alone as the sole survivor in the icy, dark waters, clinging to determination and memory to carry on (35:31-37:18).

Character and Resilience

• Vivid portrayals emphasize Loye’s stature and heart, contrasting his gentle nature with the immense strength he summons when it counts most.
• Themes of Icelandic community, memory (volcano eruption of 1973), and a profound instinct to persist against the odds (13:18-15:31, 28:54-29:18).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Loye’s Determination:
  • “If any of us make it, we need to tell people what happened here.” (Loye, 28:54)
• Facing Impossible Odds:
  • “We have to keep moving. But are we swimming in the right direction?” (Hjörtor, 33:02)
• Searing Loss at Sea:
  • “Peter sinks peacefully down into the ocean. And Loye has never felt more sad in his entire life.” (Narration, 32:28)
• Will to Survive:
  • “He is not going to die here.” (Narration, 37:18)
• Resourcefulness, even amidst chaos:
  • “Do you have milk? Flour? Eggs? … Great. Pancakes it is.” (Loye, 11:26)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:28–01:21: Introduction to Loye, the setting, and ominous foreshadowing
• 02:46–04:31: The trawler capsizes; crew are thrown into the ocean
• 05:37–13:18: Backstory: Loye’s life, crew dynamics, and launching the fateful voyage
• 19:17–23:02: Survivors in frigid water; search for missing crewmates and scramble for lifeboat
• 23:58–27:08: Attempt to survive atop the sinking hull; desperate decisions as hypothermia approaches
• 28:54–32:28: Loye’s resolve; loss of both Pater and the captain
• 33:02–37:18: Loye’s isolation, grief, and relentless swim
• 37:18–38:06: Episode closes with Loye’s unwavering commitment to survive

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Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is atmospheric, tense, and deeply human, balancing stark, immersive narration with moments of humor, warmth, and heartbreak. The use of dramatized dialogue (based on research and survivor accounts) grounds the events emotionally, making listeners feel as though they are experiencing every freezing moment with Loye.

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Conclusion

This first installment in the "Miracle in the North Atlantic" series masterfully sets up a tale of endurance, loss, and hope amidst the indifferent brutality of nature. With evocative storytelling and heartfelt performances, listeners are left on edge, eager to find out how — or if — Loye makes it home.

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Recommended Follow-Up:
To learn more about the true story, the host suggests the film The Deep (dir. Baltasar Kormákur) and Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui (38:06).

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“If one of us makes it. Somewhere in those words, there is hope.”
(Loye, 29:18)

Transcript

[Mike Corey]

Wondery subscribers can listen to against the Odds, early and ad free right now. Join Wondery in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. A listener note against the Odds uses dramatizations that are based on true events. Some elements, including dialogue, may be invented, but everything is based on research.

Wondry.

Gudlurger Frith Thorsson wakes up suddenly. Loy, as his friends call him, is in his cabin on a fishing trawler at sea off the coast of Iceland. He's trying to get some sleep, but he keeps hearing strange noises coming from the boat's engine room. The sun set hours ago, and Loye can hardly see a thing through the cabin's porthole, just the shadows of his fellow fishermen casting their nets. Loye knows he should be used to the trawler's noisy engine by now, but he can't help but worry. It's almost a reflex for him. One of his crew crewmates, Engelbert, enters the cabin and gives himself a shake. Trying to warm up. Take over for me, Loye. I need a cigarette break. What's the point? We've barely seen a fish all day. Yeah, I know. But we have to catch something eventually, right?

Loye sighs and looks at his watch. It's 10:40pm on March 11, 1984. It's no surprise the crew is getting impatient. They've been out here for hours and have barely any catch to show for it. He pulls a thin sweater and an oilskin jacket over his red flannel shirt, then climbs the steep stairs up to the deck. It's 26 degrees Fahrenheit outside, and he wonders briefly whether something warmer might be better. But once he gets working, he won't feel the cold. As he steps onto the deck, he hears another crewmate, Pater, grumbling about his hangover. And Captain Hyurter is fuming, too, because the trawler's drag net keeps getting caught on the seabed. Every time that happens, the boat has to stop. Then they use motorized winches to pull the net until it comes loose. It's costing them valuable time. Loye turns to look at the captain standing in his wheelhouse. Hyurter is looking out into the darkness with narrowed eyes. Then he notices notices Loye and motions as if he's shoveling invisible food into his mouth. Luoye smiles and nods. Yes, it is time for dinner. He goes to the staircase that leads below deck and shouts down to the ship's cook, hey, Varlur, how's food lookin'?

Suddenly the boat lurches violently to one side. Loye loses his balance and is thrown against a wall. Instinctively, he grabs a cable to steady himself. The trawler is thrashing. Animal caught in a trap. Loye knows what's happened. The dragnet has gotten stuck again and the boat is being held in place. He hears the captain shouting something, but Loye can't understand it. He must be telling the crew to release the net again. Loye inches toward the rope winch to help Varlur. The cook comes on deck. He's holding onto the stair rail for dear life, and Loye realizes in horror that the ship is leaning more and more. The waves are already lapping over the deck. Varlur is now hanging onto the stair rail, but his hand slips and he flies past Loye into the darkness. Loye is briefly numb with shock, but then he realizes they are sinking fast. Hjotar Engelbert Peter, where are you? The boat is tilting so badly that the deck is now pointing skyward. Loye is gripping the rope so tightly that his hands are starting to bleed. Normally the deck is covered with buckets and boxes, but these are flying all around him into the ocean, and in the chaos, he's lost sight of the captain and his crewmates. He can't tell if any of them had time to deploy the emergency raft. The boat is now lying almost sideways, and Loye realizes that holding on is futile. He counts down 1, 2, 3, and then let's go.

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[Mike Corey]

From Wondery I'm Mike Corey and this is against the od.

Gudlur Fridth Thorsson, better known as Loye, wanted nothing more than a simple, uneventful life. In his early 20s, he began working as a fisherman on ships from his home island of Heimae, Iceland. He earned the Little money that he needed on fishing trawlers. Travellers in the Atlantic Ocean. Luoye was a gentle giant. Six foot three, 275 pounds, with a calm, easygoing temperament. Then on March 11, 1984, when the boat he was working on sank, he began a struggle for survival that made him a national hero in Iceland. This is episode one, the Dark Ocean.

Loye steps out of his favorite bakery and leaps to one side as a big shaggy dog races past him. A girl appears from between the whitewashed houses, chasing after the dog. Hey. Sorry. No worries. Loye turns around and waves to the other customers inside the bakery to show he's all right. Then he walks on toward the harbor. The sun is starting to rise on the Icelandic island of Heimae. It's just before 8 o' clock on Sunday morning and the contours of the Eldfell volcano are emerging in the dawn light. The volcano may look peaceful now, but the crater is active. It last erupted 11 years ago with no warning in the middle of the night. Luoye was just a child and the memory of that night is. Is seared in his mind.

Come have a drink with us. Loye sees a couple of his friends sitting in front of a closed bar. They've clearly partied all night and they're still going strong. I'm sorry, I can't. I'm back out at sea for a couple days now. All right, all right, sue yourself. But hey, you're buying the next round. His friends stagger off and Luoye feels a pang of jealousy. He doesn't really want to go out to sea today. Spring is arriving on the island and he'd much rather raise a glass with his pals. He thinks about the little trawler that he'll be sailing out on. The coffee will be awful and the catch probably won't be much better. But what choice does he have? He needs the money and fishing is all that he knows.

Loye can't help but shake his head every time he sees the trawler. It bobs up and down in the half light of the harbor. It is not an impressive sight. It's about 75ft long and it's pretty narrow. Towards the stern of the boat are two outriggers that are used to release and bring in the dragnets. Below them is the deck and then at the bow there is a large wheelhouse where the captain keeps an eye on proceedings. The Helise VE503 really has seen better days. Everything is just a little rusty and tired. Captain Hjerter is already on deck and catches Loye's look of disdain. You got a problem, Loye? No, but how much longer do you think this thing is going to keep going? Come on, it's got a few miles left in it yet. Yeah, if you say so, Captain. Loye climbs aboard and gives Hyotor a big hug. He may hate the boat, but he is fond of the captain. He gets along well with his crewmates too. Like Loye. They're all in their early to mid-20s and they've been working together for a long time. Loye takes his bag to the cabin. Peter is there too, unpacking for the voyage. They greet each other without a word. Loye throws his small sports bag onto one of the bunks and trudges back upstairs. Stairs. Captain Hirter is sitting deep in thought, looking at a map. He takes a puff of his cigarette and traces a route with his finger.

I think we'll go here. Back to our usual spot. Well, Cap, the catch hasn't been so good there recently. Yeah, yeah, but we know the area and honestly, I'm not in the mood for experimenting. Look who's coming. Two figures are staggering toward the pier. The ship's cook, Varlur, is propping up Engelbert, who seems a little worse for wear. Varlor practically has to drag him up the gangway. Someone had a little too much to drink last night. He hands the hungover Engelbert over to Loye, who gives him a hearty heave on board and a slap on the back. There we are. Good thing it's your turn to check the engines today, Engelbert. Loye knows that once Engelbert is sitting in the heat of the engine room, he'll soon be back to normal. Coffee on tap wouldn't hurt either. Loye ruffles Engelbert's hair and gives Captain Hjurter the thumbs up. It is time to cast off.

Varler rummages through the provisions, looking for coffee. He's in the Helises galley kitchen, which is so small that there's barely space to turn around. But somehow he can't find the coffee anywhere. He isn't sure whether he's already unpacked it or whether he even packed it in the first place. He glances through the small round porthole and sees the town and harbor of Heimae getting smaller. There's no turning back now. If he really did forget to pack the coffee, the crew is going to be furious. Varlor feels his stomach lurch. This is his first multi Day voyage. And obviously he didn't mention his tendency to get seasick when he took the job. He swallows down his nausea and turns to resume unpacking, then jumps, startled. There's a huge figure standing in the galley door. It's Loye. The gentle giant with his curly short hair and thin blonde mustache is staring at him intently. What's on the menu today? I haven't decided yet. You don't look so good. Let's open a window, get you some air. But it's really cold. There's no point in arguing with Luoye. The giant plunks him down on a stool, then rips open the porthole window. Luoye fills a kettle with water, puts it on to boil and rummages in a drawer. He finds a tea bag, grunts in satisfaction and drops it in a mug. Then he turns to face Varlor. Do you have milk? Flour? Eggs? Varlor nods. Great. Pancakes it is. Loye begins unpacking provisions. He undoes the spring locks that keep the cupboards closed at sea and curses when he finds empty packets left behind by the previous crew. Varlor didn't ask him to do any of this, but he's grateful for a distraction from his seasickness.

Don't forget Engelbert's coffee. Okay? And leave the spoon in the cup so he knows which one's his. I. I can't find the. What? The filter papers. Then use toilet paper. It'll work just as well. Without another word, Loye takes his tea and shuffles out the door. Varlor feels calmer and his seasickness is subsiding. Maybe this voyage won't be so bad after all. Suddenly, he has a flash of inspiration. He rummages in a bag of supplies and finds the coffee right at the bottom.

Later that evening, Loye clenches and unclenches his fist, trying to get the blood flowing into his frozen fingers. The twilight is fading, and he and his colleagues have just lowered the enormous dragnet back into the water. They release the winch and the rope clatters off the spool. The enormous dragnet sinks into the dark waters towards the seabed. As the ship pulls the net along, it takes everything with it. Capelin, herring and cod if they're lucky. But this trip, they haven't had much luck at all. Every now and then, they feel a jolt when the dragnet gets stuck on the seabed. That's the cue for Loye and his crewmates to hold onto the railings. The hungover Engelbert is up on deck for the first time today. What does the net keep getting caught on? It's igneous rock. Solidified lava. But this far out, we're not that far from shore. Loye points in the direction of Heimae. The slopes of the Eldfell volcano are glowing red with the sun setting behind them. Before he knows it, he's deep in conversation with Engelbert about the great eruption of nineteen 1973. Every resident of Heimae still remembers where they were on that day. Like lots of other people, Loye had to run for his life. Engelbert recalls the boats in the harbor. Within hours, the island was evacuated. Loye watches the sun disappear behind the volcano. It is strange leaving the island. Why? I don't know. I guess I always feel like it's the last time I'll ever see it. The island will always call us back. Loye. Engelbert turns around and heads back below deck to check on the engine. Loye watches him leave, then looks back at Eldfell, watching its silhouette fade into darkness. When the captain gives the order, Loye and the other fishermen pull the net back in. They sort through the pitiful catch. And it looks like they're not done for the night yet.

Hyurter's stomach is rumbling. He hasn't eaten anything since breakfast and he's starving. The light flickering above his wheelhouse is giving him a headache, too. He's just sent Loye to check on Vaaluru the cook to find out what's for dinner. The captain slams his palm on the steering wheel in frustration. The dragnet has gotten caught on the seabed again. Hjortor reduces speed, but the swell of the ocean keeps the ship moving. The net won't come loose and the Heliseae begins to lean. Kyoter shouts through the open door of the wheelhouse to the men on deck. Ah, I've had enough of this. Let's just get it sorted and call it a night. He wonders for a moment whether anyone understood him. But then he sees Loye and Peter head to the rope winch to try and release the dragnet. But it doesn't seem to work. He can tell by the men's body language that they're getting frustrated. Then the captain has a sudden realization. The ship is leaning far too much. The swells are starting to wash through the railings and onto the deck. Hyerthor yanks the steering wheel one way and then the other, but the boat won't budge. They're st and the net is continuing to pull them over to one side. The next big wave will capsize them. Thoughts flash through his mind. He has ultimate responsibility for the crew. He runs through his options. Could they try cutting the net or dumping some cargo to rebalance the ship? But he can already see it's too late for any of that. It's all his men can do to avoid falling overboard. Heurter watches helplessly as Varlor comes up from the galley and immediately loses his balance. He tumbles off the deck and into the dark sea. Heurter knows he has to give the order that no captain wants to give. Abandon ship. No one hears him. The roar of the waves and the grinding of the engine are too loud. Hyrter leaves the wheelhouse, climbing through the door which is now hanging almost level with the sea. He tries with all his might to hold on. He hears Loye shouting the names of the crew, but he can't understand anything else. Then the captain loses his balance and slips. He claws in panic for something to hold onto. He can't abandon ship before the others. The captain is the last to go. And if not, then he goes down with his ship. But Hiortor can't fight gravity. And with a scream, he tumbles overboard and into the freezing sea.

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[Mike Corey]

Loye swallows another mouthful of salt water. He's surrounded on all sides by nothing but the dark black sea. The waves didn't seem all that big from up on deck, but here in the water, it is a different story. Loye realizes something else. It is unbearably cold. The temperature of the water can't be much more than 40 degrees. He looks around frantically for his crewmates. Where is everyone?

[Steve Nash]

Where is everyone?

[Mike Corey]

Luoye. Captain, over here. Luoye summons all of his strength and swims in the direction of Hjortra's voice. It's not easy to swim through the rise and fall of the waves, especially in the dark. But gradually Loye's eyes adjust and he spots the hull of the helisae. It hasn't fully sunk yet. There's a glow under the water where the lights of the ship are still lit. It's all so surreal. The world seems. Seems to have turned upside down. After a few strokes, Loye reaches the captain.

Where are the others? I don't know. I saw Varlor fall into the water, but. But now he's gone. That's Peter over there. The captain points, and Loye sees another head bobbing above the surface of the water nearby. Okay. What about Engelbert? I. I didn't see him leave the engine room. It is hard for Loye to tread water and keep his head above the sea. This part of Iceland is known as the windiest corner of Europe, and all that wind makes the waves unpredictable. But they can count themselves lucky. The weather conditions could be much worse. Loye and the captain hatch a plan. Heortor will try to dive down to release the lifeboat from the heliceae while Loye looks for Engelbert. But first he has to help Paytor, who seems to be in distress. Loye swims over and leads him gently in the direction of the sinking ship. Peter. Peter, we have to find something that you can hold on to. But it's so cold.

I know, I know. But you'll be okay. Just hold on tight. Loye finds a piece of floating debris and makes Pater wrap his arms around it. All the while, he tries to keep an eye out for Engelbert, but there's no sign of him. Maybe the captain is right and he's still in the engine room. Luoye doesn't think twice. As soon as he's sure Peter is secure, he takes a big gulp of air and dives underwater. He watches in the dim light as the captain pulls on the lifeboat's release mechanism. It doesn't look easy. Loye turns toward the hull of the ship and looks through the portholes, one after the other. At last, he finds the engine room and presses his face against the wind. All he can make out is a cloud of blood and the silhouette of a lifeless body floating. It's Engelbert. Loye desperately wants to do something, but he knows it's too late. And if he's going to survive, he has to get back to the surface.

Heurter pulls with all of his might on the lifeboat's release mechanism as a budge. He looks over to Luoye, who is peering through a porthole before heading back up to the surface. He ortor gives the metal handle another pull, but to no avail. He needs to head back up too.

Back at the surface, he finds Peter illuminated by the weak light of the ship. He's shivering and clinging to a styrofoam panel. Next to him is Loye treading water.

It's impossible. I can't release the lifeboat. Is it. Is it rusted shut? I. I can't tell. Heotor looks around him. All he can see is the silhouette of the wreckage. He can feel the cold in his bones. His muscles are spasming and every movement seems to take an almighty effort. Luoye, on the other hand, seems unaffected by the icy temperatures. He just keeps calmly treading water. Through clattering teeth, Pater tries to speak. The flares. Life jackets, where are they? They're on the ship, Peter, where we can't reach them. Hyrtur can hardly bear to meet Pater's gaze. His eyes move back and forth as if he's trying to read something. He seems to be coming to terms with the situation that he finds himself in.

Heurtor hears a muffled boom from somewhere inside the sinking ship. And with that, the lights aboard the Hellisae go dark. Hurtor runs his hands through his hair. It feels like the ends have ice on them. His body keeps spasming. He's familiar with situations like this from taking sea emergency courses, but those were just hypotheticals. Now they're facing reality. They have maybe 45 minutes before hypothermia sets in. He looks over to the wreck of the Heliceae. It seems to have stopped sinking for a moment, but what use is that? He wants to say something reassuring to Pater and Loye, but. What? The lifeboat can't be released. They don't even have life jackets or a flashlight. But then suddenly, he has an idea. We were due to message the Coast Guard. Anytime now, when they don't hear from us, they'll realize something is wrong and they will start looking for us. Peter is too far gone to even register this news, but Loye looks shocked. Are you saying that you didn't make an emergency call? Everything just moved so quickly. He ortur is second guessing himself. Was he too hasty in leaving his wheelhouse? How long would it have taken to make the emergency call? 10 seconds, maybe 20. But he didn't even have that long. He barely made it out alive as it is. Loye speaks up. We need to get out of here. But where can we go? Look at the keel of the ship. It doesn't seem to be sinking now. Hyurtor is impressed to realize Loye is still thinking clearly. He hasn't given up. Getting out of the water might buy some time before they become hypothermic. Loi gives Hyotor a tug on his sleeve and the captain follows him. Together they push Pater along on his styrofoam sheet. The metal of the ship is ice cold. Hyotr wonders whether his wet hands might get stuck if he touches it like a tongue on a frosty lamppost. He decides to go for it anyway and begins heaving himself up while Loy helps him from below. Loye still has the strength to push the captain up. Heurtar drags himself onto the keel of the boat out of the water. The icy wind needles at his drenched body. Hey, help me get Peitor out of the sea. You pull and I'll push when he's up there. Hold on tight. Hyotor follows Loye's instructions almost robotically. He pulls Peitor up onto the keel. Ben helps Loye. He grabs a handful of the big man's sweater and hoists him up with the little strength he can muster. Luye flops onto the keel with a groan. They've made it. Heotor feels the urge to laugh. Will this even help them? And then a wave strikes the sinking ship, and the captain sees the silhouette of Peter sway, then collapse into the darkness.

Loye just about manages to catch Peitor before he falls into the water. Loye and Hjurtur heave their colleague back up between them. Peter is shaking and he's stuttering. Loye pushes him further up on top of the keel, then wonders what to do next. He's not prepared to let them sit here without trying something. He can feel the heliceae continuing to sink beneath them, so he knows that they don't have much time. And in any case, no one is going to find them like this. Three people in the middle of the ocean in the dead of night. How far are we from shore? Three miles, maybe. Maybe four. The southern peninsula of Heimai is somewhere in that direction, but we're drifting so much, it's hard to say. Loye narrows his eyes, but all he can see are the stars in the night sky and their reflection on the surface of the ocean. Three or four miles. They'd have to swim for hours and they'd die of hypothermia before they made it. But shouldn't they at least try, you know, keep moving in the right direction? The ship sinks down further and the decision is made for them. We're sinking. We've got to swim. We have no other choice. Hyotor and Peter don't question him. The three of them slip down into the water and begin to swim in short strokes. Luoye has her stories. Theirs isn't the first trawler whose crew had been lost in the ocean because a dragnet got caught on the seabed. But what happened to them? An investigation, a wreck, and finally confirmation that all lives were lost. Then the sailors. They were forgotten.

If any of us make it, we need to tell people what happened here. Neither of his colleagues react to this remark, but Loye won't let it go if. If one of us makes it. Somewhere in those words, there is hope.

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Loye has to keep stopping to look back and find Peter. It's not easy in the pitch black Atlantic. If he can't reach back and feel him, he swims back until he finds him. Hayter doesn't seem to know where he is anymore. He's muttering and barely reacts to what Loye is saying. Meanwhile, Captain Hjurter is swimming with grim determination, but he doesn't seem to have much strength left either. Loi grabs the near unconscious pater by the collar collar and pulls him along. Peter is still trying to swim, but his strokes have been reduced to a weak flailing of his arms and legs. If he were left to his own devices, he would sink immediately. Luoye doesn't know how long he will last. Good job, Peter. Keep those arms and legs moving.

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Yeah.

[Mike Corey]

He can't tell if Peter understands him, but he keeps shouting words of encouragement anyway. Yeah. Come on. That's it. We're nearly there. That is a bare faced lie. Loye has no idea where they are or where they're swimming to. Maybe they really are heading in the direction of land. But they could just as easily swim right past the island's southern peninsula and not even realize it. Peter, when we make it, we'll head straight for the hot spring. There'll be fresh cake. It'll be straight out of the oven. Loye imagines his favorite little bakery. In the window is a display with chocolate cake, bread rolls and little tarts. And above all, TV cake, an Icelandic delicacy. He can almost smell it. Coconut, butter, caramel. The aroma keeps him moving forward. Luoye lets out a short laugh like he's a cartoon character being pulled along by a delicious smell. Yes, Peter, you like TV cake? Yeah. Peter. Peter. Loye pauses. His comrade has stopped moving. He's become heavy. And it's getting harder and harder for Loye to hold him up. He hears the captain next to him.

He's gone. Loye knows that the captain is right. Right. But he can't bear to let go of Peter's collar. Finally his fingers release one by one, as if on autopilot. And the fabric peels away until he's no longer holding on. Peter sinks peacefully down into the ocean. And Loye has never felt more sad in his entire life.

He ortur pauses for a moment. He listens to Loye sobbing, but he doesn't react. He suddenly gets colder again. The icy temperatures are overwhelming him. Instinctively, he begins to paddle. Loyer, come on. We have to keep moving. Moving. Loye obeys the order. Without a word, they continue swimming into the void. Hyurto notices how his own movements are getting smaller and smaller. Has he just been swimming in the same spot? For how long? He realizes that he has no idea. He calls out to Loye. How long have we been swimming? I have no idea. 10 minutes? 20. 10 minutes. Tries to do the math. It feels absurd given the situation they find themselves in. He imagines a blackboard covered in sums written in chalk. 10 minutes of swimming. What is that? 200 yards? Maybe only a hundred. In these temperatures it will take hours for them to reach the shore. We just need to keep swimming in the right direction. But are we swimming in the right direction? Hyurter is fascinated to realize that he's suddenly no longer cold. Maybe it's like at the swimming pool. You get used to the water. And then everything feels normal. For a moment, he feels euphoric to be in the bitter cold of the ocean, underneath the stars, among the waves. They're not a threat anymore. They're soft as pillows. He ortor spins over onto his back.

Just. Just give me a moment.

Hiortor. No, you've got to keep moving, man. Yes, yes, of course. Yes.

Just. Just a second.

The stars begin to drift above the him, like the snow in a snow globe. Hyotor sees Loye. He's floating above him, gliding through the sky, underneath the stars. How is that possible? He's rising higher and higher. The stars get paler and paler until they disappear from sight.

Luoye reaches into the darkness. Darkness where the Captain just was. But there is nothing. Just endless water. Hortor. Hortor. Hortor. Where are you? Where are you? There's no answer. He's alone. But he can't be alone. Loye refuses to accept that Hjortor is gone. He dives down into the dark depths, grasping around for the Captain. Below the surface, he can imagine it perfectly. Grabbing Hirto or pulling him up. Hyurtor. He'll cough a bit, maybe vomit up some salt water, but then he'll feel better, and the pair of them can keep on swimming to shore. Loye thinks he's touching something, maybe fingertips. Is that Hyotor? But when he closes his hand, all he feels is water. He's running out of breath. He swims back up to the surface, gasping in the cold night air.

Luoye doesn't know how he's still going. He's bitterly cold, but not as cold as he should be. Why is he still here? He feels like a child again. Back in swim class, in the big old municipal swimming pool. Back then, he learned how to swim with swimming aids made from Styrofoam, or as they called it, squeaky foam.

Loye got his swimming badges in the end, but he was never a natural swimmer. He. How is he still here? How is he still going? He puts the thought out of his mind and looks around him. Since coming back up to the surface, he's lost any sense of direction. He is totally alone and everything looks the same. He's even unsure which way the waves are going. He's only sure of one thing. He needs to keep moving.

Luoye takes a deep breath. He decides on a direction. And he begins to swim. One stroke after the other. One stroke after the other. He is not going to die here.

[True Crime Podcast Host]

If you like against the odds, you can binge all episodes early and ad free right now by joining Wondery plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. Prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey.

[Mike Corey]

This is the first episode of our two part series Miracle in the North Atlantic. A quick note about our scenes. In most cases we can't exactly know what was said, but everything is based on based on historical research. If you want to learn more about the events in this story, we recommend the film the Deep, directed by Baltazar Hormakur and the book why We Swim by Bonnie Sooey. I'm your host Mike Corey. Tom Earhart wrote this episode, translated by Will Salt Sound design by Joe Richardson. Audio engineer is Sergio Enriquez. Original theme music Scott Velasquez and 2K for freestyle on Sync produced by Emily Frost and Simone Terbrach. Managing producer is Desi Blaylock. Senior producers are Andy Herman and Austin Rachlis. Executive producers are Jenny Lauer, Beckman and Marshall Louie. For Wondery.