← Against The Odds
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Cassie DePechel
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. Wonder Michael o' Mahoney stares into the dark horizon from the pool deck of the Oceanos, his mind fixed on Yvette and their two young children. How long has it been since he watched them disappear into the storm? 2 hours? More? An icy wind howls up from the south, stinging his face and making his eyes water. He tries not to think about how easily their small, exposed lifeboat could capsize in waves like these. It's around 3:30am he's with his friend Neil Shaw, whose wife and daughter are also out there somewhere. The ship is now listing at least 25 degrees starboard. Their feet slope down the tilted deck and they have to cling to the port side railing just to stay upright. Michael keeps one hand on the railing while he passes Neil the bottle of whiskey they snagged from the deserted bar. After their families were evacuated, the two of them helped load the final lifeboat. They did everything they could, and now there's nothing left to do except wait and hope. Suddenly, the ship takes a massive hit and lurches hard. Michael whips his head around in time to see Neil go tumbling down the deck toward the pool, now nearly drained from the ship's extreme tilt. For a breathless second, Michael thinks he's going to fall in, but at the last moment, Neil catches a railing and stops himself. Michael exhales. Neil flashes a shaky thumbs up, then begins climbing back up the slanted deck. When he reaches him, Michael extends a hand. Bad time to go for a swim. Neil grips the railing, still panting, and lowers himself beside Michael. He glances around. Where's the whiskey? Michael lets out a brief laugh and Neil chuckles too, shaking his head. But the moment doesn't last because they both know the truth. It won't be long before the Oceanos tilts past the point of no return, and unless help arrives soon, they'll be going down with it. How much do I love dogs? This much you can't see because this is an audio ad, but I'm holding my hands really far apart to show that I love dogs an awful lot. You know what else I love an awful lot? CareCredit. You can use the CareCredit credit card to pay for your dog's vet care or for your own dental vision and more. At over 270,000 locations. CareCredit offers flexible financing for health and wellness for pets and people. I give it two thumbs and 3.5 paws up. Visit carecredit.com to apply and find a location near you. Subject to credit approval. Craving your next action packed adventure? Audible delivers thrills of every kind on your command, like Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir where a lone astronaut must save humanity from extinction. Narrated, created with stunning intensity by Ray Porter from electrifying suspense and daring quests to spine tingling horror and romance and far off realms, unleash your adventure aside with gripping titles that'll keep you guessing. Discover exclusive Audible originals, hotly anticipated new releases and must listen bestsellers that hook you from the first minute. Because Audible knows there's no greater thrill than the one that speaks to to you. Discover what lies beyond the edge of your seat. Start your free 30 day trial at audible.com wonderyus that's audible.com wonderyus from wondery I'm Cassie Depechel, and this is against the Odds in the early morning hours of August 1st 4th, 1991, the cruise ship Oceanos lay crippled and powerless in the waters off South Africa's Wild Coast. Most of the ship's senior officers fled early in lifeboats while the captain abandoned his post, leaving the entertainment staff to lead the evacuation of hundreds of passengers in the midst of a raging storm. Once the last lifeboats were gone, more than 200 people were left behind to wait, cold and terrified as the ship continued to list and take on water. And for those who did escape onto lifeboats, the danger was far from over. Crushing waves threatened to capsize their tiny vessels as they drifted in the darkness. This is Episode three Sink or Swimming? Cruise director Lorraine Betts leans backward to keep her balance as she carefully makes her way down the sloped floor of the lounge. The Oceanos has been listening for so many hours now, she's starting to forget what it's like to walk on level ground. It's just after 4am and the mood in the lounge is grim. Mostly men separated from their families. Some are sleeping, others sip beer in silence. Robin the magician is moving from group to group, trying his best to lift spirits with one liners. Out on the horizon, Lorraine spots ship lights growing closer. The Nedloid Mauritius is coming to their rescue. She assumed helicopters would have been dispatched by now, but so far there's no sign of any. Whatever help is coming, she just hopes it arrives in time. The water keeps rising. Any minute now, it could begin pouring into the lounge. Suddenly, Lorraine's mind flashes to a horrifying image. The Oceanos rolled onto its side, water flooding the lounge, passengers screaming and pounding on the windows. She springs into action and quickly gathers whatever staff is nearby. Help me get everyone outside to the pool deck. If this thing goes belly up, we've got a better shot out there than trapped in here. Reluctantly, passengers cling to one another as they inch out of the lounge and onto the deck. The wind is still howling, but at least the rain has let up. One by one they lower themselves along the slanted port side railing. Slowly they form a long line, each person looping an arm or leg through the next to keep from sliding into the sea. A human chain stretched across the 500 foot vessel clinging to Hope. Moss Hills climbs back up the slick tilting stairwell to the bridge with Tracy close behind. The ship is now listing 25 to 30 degrees. Every time it heaves starboard, it feels like one more push could send it over. It's 5am and thankfully the Ned Lloyd Mauritius is drawing closer. For the past couple of hours, Moss and the others have been taking turns climbing to the bridge for updates from Captain Detmar, their only direct line of communication. Detmar has been coordinating with other nearby cargo ships, all searching for their drifting lifeboats amid the swells. The last time Moss saw captain of Ranis was he was smoking on the pool deck, refusing to help. So now it's up to Moss and the other entertainment staff to support the 240 people still aboard. Moss is determined to do everything he can to get them through this alive. He's heartened that hundreds of passengers have put their trust in them and followed their lead. He can't let them down. Inside, Detmar's voice crackles over the radio. How much longer until you go under? Moss knows the flooding is creeping higher with every passing minute. I'm not sure. Two, three hours. Maybe less. We need to get off this sinking ship. Detmar breaks the news. They have to hold back. The swells are too dangerous to approach. He explains that bringing a vessel or even a lifeboat too close could be catastrophic. One wrong move and the Oceanos might go under instantly and drag their ship down with it. Moss blinks, stunned. Hold back then. What's the plan for saving us? We'll wait nearby. When you start to go under, we'll rush in with lifeboats and pull out as many as we can from the water. Moss exhales. That's the plan. As he lowers the handset, the cold reality sinks in. They might not make it. He turns to Tracy. Thank God. Amber's not here. Their teenage daughter had just spent two weeks on board with them during school holidays. She returned home to Durban a few days ago. Tracy reaches for his hand. No matter what, one of us has to survive. She needs a parent. Moss nods, swallowing hard. The thought of Amber safe at home is what he'll cling to. He just hopes they'll both live to see her again. Yvette o' Mahony clutches three month old Maggie to her chest as the lifeboat rises and pitches. Spray lashes her face and her 4 year old son Liam buries his head into her side. She slips a hand into Maggie's sleeping bag and exhales. She's still breathing. All Yvette wants is to get off this lifeboat and back to Michael. They've been adrift for hours, exposed to the elements. Everyone on board is soaked, freezing and terrified. There's no food or drinking water and Yvette's breast milk has dried up from the stress. She's never felt more helpless. She can't even feed her children. But now, finally, Yvette feels a flicker of hope. The sky has softened from black to gray and she can see the cargo ship they spotted hours ago is drawing near. The massive, rust streaked bulker moves alongside them. Through the spray she can just make out the name stenciled high on its flank. Great Nancy. A sailor above hurls a rope down toward the lifeboat. Hands shoot up. Someone grabs it. But as they draw closer to that gigantic hull, the boat starts thrashing violently in the waves. Watch out. Hang on tight. The lifeboat slams into the steel hull with a deafening crack. The impact reverberates through a vet's body. Passengers scream, certain they're about to be crushed. The elderly woman who was struck by a chain during launch shields her head with trembling arms. The lifeboat keeps getting battered against the side of the ship. No, no, it's too dangerous. We'll get sucked under. They're forced to release the rope and their small boat drifts back into the waves, away from immediate danger, but nowhere near safety. Look. Another ship over there. Yvette turns and sees more lights in the distance. They change course and begin aiming for them. Hope flickers once more, but the waves are still relentless and once again they're at the mercy of the sea. Michael o' Mahony opens his eyes to a smoky gray dawn. He's still gripping the slanted deck railing with one leg looped around his friend Neil. A long row of passengers now stretches along the tilted port side. Maybe he managed to get a half hour of sleep. Hey, look Is that a dolphin? Someone nearby points down at the sea. Everyone quickly turns to see what he spotted. Wow. There's so many. Look at them. Michael squints at the churning water. Sure enough, dolphins. Dozens of them, darting and leaping through the waves. One breaks the surface, twisting midair, the soft morning light glinting off its snout. For the first time in hours, Michael smiles. He turns to Neil. Maybe they'll help us if we have to swim. Neil smirks. Or at least keep the sharks away. Michael's smile fades. He'd worried about hypothermia, about drowning, but not sharks. Then, above the spring, Michael hears something else. His heart leaps. He's worked in air operations long enough to recognize that sound. ROTOR blades. Others hear it too, and lift their heads. Even the dolphins seem to sense it. They scatter as suddenly as they appeared. Look. Helicopters. Two Puma helicopters emerge from the haze, flying low over the water towards the ship. A tired cheer ripples through the crowd huddled on the deck. No one slept. But that doesn't stop their hope and excitement. Finally, rescue is here. But still Michael wonders, how the hell are helicopters going to get all of us off this ship? Paul Wiley leans out the open door of the Puma helicopter as the Oceanos comes into view. His jaw drops. He's never seen anything like it. The cruise ship is listing nearly 30 degrees, rocking hard with every wave up and down and side to side like a toy in a bathtub. He's glad he's tethered in. The winds are shoving and shaking the aircraft. At 22, Paul is a Navy diver, a job he's dreamed about since he was a kid. He's trained for tough conditions, but even the most seasoned members of his team seem rattled. The combination of wind, turbulence and massive swells makes this the worst flying conditions they've ever faced. They had to wait until daybreak to arrive. Attempting this in the dark would have been suicide. As the chopper banks over the ship, Paul gets a clearer view of the scene below. There's a tangle of white deck chairs piled along the starboard railing. On the higher port side, there's a line of passengers in orange life jackets clinging to the rails and waving up at him. They look desperate, hopeful, but Paul already can tell this is going to be anything but simple. In his headset, he hears his pilot, Captain Chas Goatley. I can't land on that thing. It's pitched too far. I'll try hovering above the stern. I'll lower you from there. Goatley fights to hold the puma steady in 60 knot wind. They can't get too low or the spray from the sea could choke the engines. The flight engineer gives the go ahead and Paul lowers himself to the skid, then drops immediately. The wind swings him like a pendulum. As Paul nears the deck, the ship suddenly pitches and he crashes down hard on his stomach. Gritting his teeth, he scrambles to his feet, winded. Blood trickles down his face, but nothing feels broken. He steadies himself, takes a few breaths, and starts climbing up the deck toward the crowd. That's when he sees it. Really sees it. The full scope. From the air it looked like a few dozen people. But down here they're everywhere. Hundreds packed into stairwells, slumped along bulkheads, sitting shoulder to shoulder along the rails. All he can think is, I'm going to die trying to save these people, and some of them will die with me. And now a next level moment from AT&T business say you've sent out a gigantic shipment of pillows and they need to be there in time for International Sleep day. You've got AT and T5G so you're fully confident, but the vendor isn't responding and International Sleep Day is tomorrow. Luckily, AT&T5G lets you deal with any issues with ease, so the pillows will get delivered and everyone can sleep soundly. Especially you. AT&T5G requires a compatible plan and device coverage not available everywhere. Learn more@att.com 5G Network this is Nick and this is Jack. We're best friends, ex finance guys and resident 90s experts. And every week on our podcast, the Best Idea yet, we're bringing you the untold stories behind your favorite products. For instance, can you guess which billion dollar fashion company went viral thanks to a rhinestone covered tracksuit? Or which cartoon turned four turtles into a global toy empire by accident? It started as a joke. Last one which cold beverage was so hated by Starbucks they actually ended up acquiring it? Spoiler the Frappuccino. Howard Schultz apparently thought cold coffee was super lame and then he bought it. From Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Juicy Couture to the Orange Mocha Frappuccino, Join us every week to learn how favorite things got made. Follow the best idea yet on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. And you can listen early and ad free right now by joining Wondery Plus. And if this podcast lasts longer than 45 minutes, call your doctor. Paul Wiley stands on the slanted deck in his wet stuff, taking in the overwhelming sight of hundreds of passengers waiting to be airlifted looking to him for help. A Woman with dark wavy hair wearing a green windbreaker steps forward and hands him a megaphone. I'm Lorraine, the cruise director. Go on, tell us what to do. Paul wipes the blood from his cheek and musters a reassuring smile. We're getting you out of here. Women and children first. Who's ready to go up? Silence. No one steps forward. He realizes his crash landing probably didn't inspire much confidence. I know that wasn't the most graceful arrival, but I promise getting pulled up is the easy part. Two passengers finally step forward. After they're safely lifted. The tension breaks. Lorraine moves quickly, organizing people into lines, and Paul gets to work. He realizes it's more efficient for him to stay on deck and load two passengers at a time into the double harness. The cable with the empty harnesses drops back down. Paul grabs it and turns to the next two people in line. As he fastens, the first woman in a middle aged man cuts in and quickly slips into the second harness. Paul frowns, but there's no time to argue. The man signals to the chopper and up they go. Voices ripple through the crowd. Hey, was that the captain? Did he just push ahead? Why is the captain leaving before the rest of us? Paul looks up, stunned. The captain is already at the open door of the chopper being hauled aboard. Paul clenches his jaw. It's not right. But there's no time to dwell. Not with so many people still waiting to be saved. Deborah Lariche peers through the lifeboat window up at the towering black hall above them. In the gray morning light, she can see the name Great Nancy. It may be a cargo vessel, but from down here it might as well be a mountain rising out of the sea. How in God's name are they supposed to get aboard? The ship's deck must be eight stories up. Their small lifeboat keeps getting slammed against the hull. Thankfully, it has a hard shell. But Deborah notices the water in the lifeboat rising with every hit. It's around 6:30am Deborah, 8 year old Raymond and 5 year old Megan have been at sea for hours. With them in the lifeboat are a few dozen people, other mothers with their children, several officers and the casino dealer. The crew aboard the rescue ship have already thrown down ropes to tether the lifeboat to the hull. But now something else is being lowered. A large metal bucket swaying at the end of a rope from high above. A sailor leans over the railing and gestures. It's for the children. A jolt of fear runs through Deborah. Her stomach drops. They can't seriously expect her to put her kids in that. Then one of the officers aboard turns to the group who wants to go first. To her shock, Raymond stands up. I'll go. The officer looks to her for approval. Deborah nods slowly, her chest tightening. She reaches out and hugs him. You're so brave, Raymond. I'll see you soon. He climbs into the bucket and grips the sides. Deborah can't watch. She turns away and squeezes her eyes shut. Finally, she hears a voice. He made it. He's safe. She exhales, then helps Megan into the bucket again. She closes her eyes, unable to bear watching. But once more the voice comes. She's up. One by one, every child makes it safely. Even a newborn wrapped in extra clothes in the bucket is lifted after a kiss from his mother. Next, it's the adult's turn. The crew up above drop a harness and someone demonstrates how to lie back and walk up the side of the ship while being hauled. One by one they go, some shakier than others. Some bang against the steel. Some are still spun in the air. One woman slams her hands against the hull and screams, but makes it. Then the casino dealer goes up. Deborah watches his ascent. Halfway up. Suddenly something looks wrong. He's slipping. She gasps. The harness shifts and he plummets into the sea. A crew member throws a life booby, but the waves drag him away. One swell carries him down the length of the Great Nancy. Then he's gone. There's nothing anyone can do. Deborah forces herself to focus. Her children are on that ship. She can't fall apart. Moss Hills braces himself on the slanted deck, one hand gripping the rope tied around his wing while the other one reaches for the swinging harness. He fastens the double unit around the next two passengers and gives a thumbs up to the chopper above. A second later, the cable jerks tight and the pair lift off into the air. Though the worst of the storm has passed, the wind still howls across the deck and the Oceanos bobs like a cork on the waves. The rope around his waist that's tied to the port side railing is the only thing keeping him from sliding off the ship. The evacuation is running smoothly so far. For the past hour he and Tracy have been working in tandem at the bow while Lorraine keeps the lines moving and Robin relays updates from the bridge. Two helicopters are now operating simultaneously, one at the stern, one above them. Moss has no training for this. The second Navy diver showed him what to do. The diver has gone to inflate a rubber dinghy Lorraine found. Every time Moss signals, Tracy sends over the next pair. Once a chopper is filled with around 20 evacuees, it heads to the remote shoreline two miles away, then circles back for more. Moss is amazed by how calm everyone has been. One elderly couple, when called forward, gently refused. The woman said, let the young people go first. We've had long lives. They sat holding hands as others passed them in line. Though not everyone's been so noble. Moss can't stop thinking about the captain who fled in the first chopper and makes his blood boil. But that fury is what's keeping him going. He hasn't slept in nearly two days, and he's running on fumes. The empty harness swings back down as Moss reaches for it. The cable snags on the edge of the ship. A gust of wind blows, and the rolling vessel yanks it tight. The crew above can't free it, and if the tension holds, the ship will pull the helicopter down onto it. Without thinking, Moss leaps over the railing, hanging face first against the hull. One hand grips the the rope around his waist while the other works to unhook the snagged line. Finally, success. He hauls himself back over the railing, breathless. But there's no time to rest. He catches the freed harness, signals to Tracy, and the rescue continues. Yvette o' Mahony looks up at the name painted on the hull. Kazoobi 2. After leaving the Great Nancy, they started aiming for this ship. Now, more than an hour later, they're finally drawing close. It's smaller than the Great Nancy, but from the lifeboat, it still looks impossibly large. Crew members above toss down ropes, but once again, their exposed lifeboat is slammed into the side of the ship. Hard. Then again. And again. Wood is starting to break off in chunks. Get us away from it. The ship will kill us. Everyone's nerves were already shocked after the last attempt, but now people are full on panicking. Two crew members on the lifeboat strain at the manual levers to steer them back into open water. They can't take much more, and they can't go searching for yet another ship. This has to be it. The Kazoobi 2 begins to circle them, trying to create a windbreak. But the maneuver only worsens the panic. Get away from us, please. Yvette sees it in their faces. Some would rather take their chances in the disintegrating lifeboat than risk being crushed against the hull again. It's not a choice she wants to make. Thankfully, she doesn't have to. From above, two sailors drop down on ropes and land with a thud inside the lifeboat. Rubber buffers are lowered alongside them, helping to cushion the crashes. The sailors Move quickly unfurling a huge cargo net rigged to a crane above. They gesture for passengers to climb in. Yvette's heart pounds as the first few people climb into the net. She's relieved to see Lynn, the crew staffer, helping the elderly woman who was struck in the head. Then the crane lifts, the cables go taut, and the net begins to rise like a haul from a fishing boat. Eventually, it's their turn. Yvette clutches Maggie tight against her chest, wraps her arm around Liam, and guides them into the net. The cable tugs and suddenly they're lifting. The net sways in the wind. Yvette squeezes her eyes shut with her children pressed against her, until at last they're swung over the deck and lowered gently down onto it. The moment they're helped out, she drops to her knees, sobbing, and pulls Maggie and Liam into a tight embrace. They're safe now. All she needs to know is that Michael is too. Paul Wylie grabs the swinging harness as it drops from a puma helicopter overhead. His arms and legs are sore, but there's no time to stop. He's been evacuating passengers from the Oceanos for more than three hours now, hauling terrified people into the sky one after another, while the ship tilts further with every passing minute. The end is coming. Everyone can feel it. The deck is now a slope. Just standing takes effort, but the line is nearly gone. There's maybe just a couple dozen passengers left to save. Paul signals to the next two passengers. An elderly couple approaches, George and Gerda. He remembers them from earlier. In the chaos, they'd insisted on letting younger people go ahead. Now it's finally their turn. All right, lift your arms. Let me get this on you. They raise their hands. Paul slips the double harness over them and cinches the straps around Gerda first. But just as he reaches for Georges, the ship lurches hard. George stumbles, flailing as he struggles to stay upright. Then suddenly, the winch kicks in and Gerda is yanked off the deck with a jolt. She screams as George throws his arms around her and holds onto her body with everything he's got. The chopper must have mistaken George's flailing for a lift signal. Paul watches, helpless, as the two of them swing out over open water. George's grip begins to slip first from Gerda's waist, then her legs, until finally he drops nearly 100ft and crashes into the sea. Paul doesn't hesitate. He climbs over the railing and dives headfirst into the water. He swims in the direction of where George fell but the swells are huge and he can't see more than 20ft ahead. He hears something, whistles. He turns back toward the upper deck of the Oceanos. Passengers are blowing their life jacket whistles and pointing frantically into the distance. He pivots in the water and follows their line of sight, swimming as hard as he can. And then just over the next cresting wave, he sees him floating face down. George Paul reaches out, grabs George's life jacket and flips him over. George coughs and sputters up some seawater, then finally gasps as he sucks in air. He's alive, just winded. But then he starts flailing in panic. GEORGE Stop kicking. You'll attract sharks. George calms down. Paul slips behind him and begins dragging him through the water. He scans the horizon, then spots a lifeboat from the Nedloid Mauritius, speeding toward them. Moments later, hands reach down and pull George aboard. Paul takes one deep breath, then turns back toward the Oceanos. There are still people waiting and until the last one is safe, he's not done. Hey grown ups. I'm Mindy Thomas. And I'm Guy Raz and we're the host of the number one podcast for curious kids. Wow in the World. Ah, Mindy. Can you believe we have our very own wow in the World Stem Toys? I totally can't believe it. Guy Raz 8 years ago when we started making wow in the World, we were on a mission to spread the latest WOW discoveries in science and technology and innovation. And now we get to help kids discover these wows right at home. That's right. From the ultimate high flying air rocket to the light up terrarium, there's something for every Wowzer in your world to play and tinker with grownups. You can find wow in the World Stem Toys available now at select Walmart locations or online@walmart.com shop the wow. Now every big moment starts with a big dream. But what happens when that big dream turns out to be a big flop? From Wondery and Ill Media, I'm Meisha Brown and this is the Big Flop. Every week, comedians join me to chronicle the biggest flubs, fails and blunders of all time. Like Quibi. It's kind of like when you give yourself your own nickname and you try to like get other people to do it. And the 2019 movie adaptation of Cats. Like if I'm watching the dancing and I'm noticing the feet aren't touching the ground, there's something wrong with the movie. Find out what happens when massive hype turns into major fiasco. Enjoy the Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to the Big Flop early and ad free on Wondery Plus. Get started with your free trial at Wondery.com Plus. Debra Lariche cradles a steaming cup of instant chicken flavored soup aboard the Great Nancy. It's the first warm thing she's touched in hours. On the floor beside her, 8 year old Raymond and 5 year old Megan are wrapped in wool blankets, sound asleep. Not long after her children were hoisted aboard in a bucket, it was Deborah's turn to scale the wall of the ship. She was terrified, but surprised herself by scrambling up without much trouble. The moment she reached the deck, she found her kids and pulled them in close. The crew has been gracious, offering spare clothes, blankets, and Styrofoam cups of soup. The mothers on board have formed an unspoken alliance, helping each other settle the children and exchanging quiet smiles. No one says much. They're all too drained. Shortly after they came aboard, another lifeboat pulled up alongside. It was the first one to leave the Oceanos, the one carrying all senior officers. Many of the women stood with arms crossed as the officers climbed aboard. Some muttered curses under their breath, others shouted insults at them. Deborah understands. They took off while their husbands had to stay. A few of the officers hung their heads in shame. One even broke down sobbing, and for reasons she can't quite explain, Deborah offered him a few comforting words. She doesn't have the energy to be angry. Her kids are safe and that's all that matters. Well, almost. She doesn't know if Rene made it off the ship or if he's still on the Oceanos, or if it's even still afloat. Suddenly, crew members are scurrying out onto the deck. Another lifeboat must be pulling up. Deborah sets her soup aside and hurries to the nearest porthole. A few other women gather beside her. Their breath fogs the glass as they press their faces close. One by one, soaked evacuees are being hauled up by the rope and helped over the side. A woman next to her gasps, it's him. She runs for the deck and wraps her arms around her husband in a tearful embrace. Deborah watches, her heart aching. She's happy for them, but the fear in her chest doesn't let up. She keeps scanning the faces. And then there he is. Rene. She knows it's him the instant his head crests the edge of the hull. Deborah bolts for the deck, weaving through the crowd, and throws herself into his trembling arms. They made it. All of them. Lorraine bets grips the port side railing and watches as the rubber dinghy launches from the sinking bow into the churning water. It thrashes with every wave. A Navy diver and magician Julian Butler are inside of it. Gary, the diver, starts the engine and Lorraine untethers the rope from the railing. They're ready. TFC staff found the rubber inflatable earlier. Lorraine knew it wasn't built for massive stuff wells like these, but she figured it could be used as a last resort. And now it is the last resort. Both helicopters left a while ago to offload passengers and refuel, but they've taken longer than expected. Panic started spreading, and a few people got so desperate they decided to jump in the water. Gary and Julian steer toward the bobbing passengers and begin plucking them from the waves. Once the dinghy is full, they ferry the evacuees to the Ned Lloyd's lifeboat, waiting a safe distance from the wildly pitching Oceanos. The bow is sinking deeper by the minute. The starboard railings dip in and out of the sea while deck chairs float away like driftwood. If they don't get off now, they'll go down with the ship. Lorraine scans the foredeck. There's still about 50 people left. She needs to speed up the evacuation. When Gary and Julian return in the dinghy, Lorraine looks to the youngest and most agile passengers remaining. Make your way down, and when a wave crashes in, ride it out and swim clear of the ship. Don't worry, you'll be picked up. Some hesitate, but most listen. One by one, they time their jumps with the swells and splash into the frothing sea. Gary and Julian are machines, hauling people into the dinghy and zipping them over to the Ned Lloyd's lifeboat. Lorraine watches as people scramble onto its roof and up a rope ladder dangling off the side of the cargo ship. The wind tosses them like laundry, but they all make it. Then she turns. All that's left are Michael and Neil, who have been assisting with the rescue all night, and several junior crew members, young Filipino and Greek men who, unlike their superiors, stayed and helped. We're going to capsize any minute. You've all done your part. Now it's time. We all have to jump. They move to the edge and kick off their shoes. A wave rolls in. Jump now. She leaps. Nicole smacks her hard and the waves toss her around, but she keeps swimming. Within minutes, Julian and Gary are pulling her into the dinghy. She collapses on the rubber floor, soaked and shivering. Then Lorraine hears the sound of rotors and looks up. A helicopter is finally returning. She closes her eyes and laughs. She remembers wanting to be a pilot as a teenager. Her brothers both flew. She wanted to as well, but her father told her girls can't be pilots in an emergency. Girls panic. Lorraine smiles to herself. Guess I proved him wrong. Magician Robin Bultman returns to the bridge after doing a final head count. For the past few hours he's been the main point of contact with the emergency response unit set up that morning on the nearest shoreline, where evacuees are now being airlifted. Back on the radio, Robin is relieved to hear that all the lifeboats that fled the Oceanos have now been rescued by nearby ships and all the passengers who recently jumped into the water have been picked up too. Only a few remain on board, the last group being hoisted from the stern, as well as Moss, Tracy, Paul Wiley, and himself. Robin keys the mic. I did a final sweep. There's just a few more passengers left being lifted now. Suddenly a new voice cuts in. Robin, how are things going? Robin freezes. That voice. It's not from the rescue team, but it's familiar. His pulse spikes. Captain Avranis. There's a pause. Yes? What degree are we listing at now? Robin stares at the radio in disbelief. What do you mean we? His irony is lost on the captain. The angle look at the instrument on the wall. Robin swallows his rage and turns to a pendulum style tool on the wall. It's already swung past its highest mark, 30 degrees. He grabs a pen and adds new degree points, following the pendulum's arc. Then he keys the mic again. It's listing at 38 degrees. Silence. But Robin doesn't need a reply. He knows what it means. The ship is about to go. He drops the handset and heads for the door. Every instinct is screaming, Move now. But just as his hand touches the handle, he stops. He turns back and sees the captain's canary perched quietly in its cage. Robin grabs the cage, carries it outside and opens the wire door. The tiny bird hesitates, then catches the wind and soars into the sky. He can't stop what's coming, but in this moment on this doomed ship, it feels like one small act of mercy. Moss Hills fastens the strap on one of the final passengers as Paul Wiley tightens the other person's harness. They're moving fast now, working at the stern with Tracy guiding the last of the line. The Oceanos is tilted at nearly 45 degrees, more like a wall than a floor. Walking is impossible. Every step is a scramble, a fight against gravity. The spot at the bow where they'd been hoisting people earlier is now underwater. The stern is the only place left where a chopper can pull them out. Moss's heart pounds. Time is running out. They signal the chopper, and the last two passengers are reeled up into the sky. When the empty harness swings back down, Paul catches it and turns to Moss and Tracy. Your turn. They slip the harnesses over their heads. Paul cinches the straps tight under their arms, then steps back and gives a thumbs up to the sky. The cable jerks and suddenly Moss is soaring into the air with his arms wrapped around Tracy, holding her tight. At the open door of the helicopter, waiting hands grab them and haul them inside. The moment they're safe, the harness goes back down. Moss locks eyes with Tracy and squeezes her hand. We'll be with Amber soon. A minute later, Paul appears on the line with Robin Bultman still in his suit and tie, rising like a magician taking his final bow. Once everyone is aboard, the Puma circles wide. Moss leans toward the window for one last glimpse. The ship is in its death throes. The bow is fully submerged, and the stern is rising higher with each passing swell. Nose down, the Oceanos hangs almost vertical, eerily still, like it's pausing for one final breath. And then it slips beneath the surface, swallowed whole by the sea it once sailed. Moss, Tracy, Robin and Paul Wylie land him back on solid ground to a chorus of for they are all jolly Good Fellows. Back in Durban, Moss was treated for dehydration and exhaustion, but he and Tracy were otherwise well and deeply grateful to be alive and reunited with their daughter Amber. When Lorraine Betts arrived aboard the Ned Lloyd, she finally received confirmation that her grandmother was alive and well. At last she could relax. Michael o' Mahoney and Neil Shaw had emotional reunions with their families at the Durban airport. The entire entertainment staff and those who assisted them were hailed by passengers for their heroic efforts. Remarkably, all 571 people onboard the Oceanos survived. Even the casino dealer, who had been swept away by the waves, was found later that day floating six miles from the wreckage. He was pulled from the water naked except for a life jacket stuffed with $15,000 in cash. He told rescuers it wasn't casino money. It was his life savings. Avranis faced intense criticism for leaving the ship early. In interviews, he was unapologetic, insisting he could better coordinate rescue efforts from shore. He was quoted as saying, when I order abandon ship, it doesn't matter what time I leave. Abandon is for everybody. If some people like to stay, they can stay. In 1992 Avranos and five other officers were convicted of negligence by a Greek maritime board. The captain was never held personally liable or charged with a crime. His employer assigned him to command another vessel. Navy diver Paul Wylie received South Africa's highest medal of honor, the Gold Cross, in 2021, on the 30th anniversary of the sinking, South Africa's Sea Rescue Institute honored the civilian heroes whose actions saved lives aboard the Oceanos, including Lorraine Betts, Michael o' Mahony, Neal Shaw, Moss Hills Julian, Bob Butler and Robin Bultman. The Oceanos came to rest nearly 300ft below the surface. It remains there today. If you like, against the odds. You can binge all episodes early and ad free right now by joining Wondery 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 survey@wondery.com survey this is the third and final episode of our three part series, Rescue off the Wild Coast. A quick note about our scenes. In most cases, we can't know exactly what was said, but everything is based on historical research. I'm your host Cassidy Depechel. Steve Fennesee and Rachel Matlow wrote this episode. Sound design by Rob Schieliga Audio engineer is Sergio Enriquez Original theme music Scott Velasquez and 2K for Freesound Sync produced by Alita Rozanski Managing producer is Desi Blaylock Senior managing producer is Callum Plews Senior producer is Rachel Matlow. Executive producers are Jenny Lahr Beckman, Stephanie Jens Marshall, Louie and Erin o' Flaherty. Her Wondery behind the closed doors of government offices and military compounds, there are hidden stories and buried secrets from the darkest corners of history. From COVID experiments pushing the boundaries of science to operations so secretive they were barely whispered about. Each week on Redacted Declassified Mysteries, we pull back the curtain on These hidden histories, 100% true and verifiable stories that expose the shadowy underbelly of power. Consider Operation Paperclip, where former Nazi scientists were brought to America after World War II not as prisoners, but as assets to advance US intelligence during the Cold War. These aren't just old conspiracy theories. They're thoroughly investigated accounts that reveal the uncomfortable truths still shaping our world today. The stories are real. The secrets are shocking. Follow Declassified Mysteries on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to redacted early and ad free right now on Wonder Plus.