Pipeline Podcast: Episode 2 – "The Fifth Man"

Release Date: May 22, 2025

Introduction

In the gripping second episode of the Daily Mail's podcast series Pipeline, host Isabelle Stanley delves deeper into the harrowing incident that occurred in February 2022, where five professional divers were sucked into an underwater oil pipeline off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago. This episode, titled "The Fifth Man," focuses on Christopher Boodram—the sole survivor of the ordeal—and uncovers layers of negligence, dangerous working conditions, and mysterious circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

Christopher Boodram: The Sole Survivor

The episode opens with Christopher Boodram experiencing intense nightmares the week before the accident, signaling his subconscious turmoil. Isabelle Stanley introduces listeners to Christopher's personal life, highlighting his marriage to Candy, a nurse, and their five children. Their relationship, rooted in shared hardships and mutual support, paints a picture of a man striving for a better future despite humble beginnings.

Christopher Boodram [00:15]: "More or less death."

Christopher's transformation from a "loose cannon" to a responsible family man is attributed to the birth of their first child, which motivated him to pursue a stable and lucrative career in commercial diving—a field that promised financial security for his family.

The Fateful Day: February 25, 2022

Christopher recounts the events of that tragic Friday with vivid detail. The divers, employed by LMCs—a contractor known for questionable safety standards—gathered at Berth 6 to begin their day’s work on repairing a leaking oil pipeline submerged 60 feet below the Caribbean Sea.

Christopher Boodram [06:50]: "Six o' clock in the morning, we headed out. The place was overcast, rain was falling. Place was cold, so I put on my wetsuit while the badge was going out."

The team entered a confined habitat—a small, air-filled chamber built around the leaking section of the pipe. As they began their tasks, everything seemed routine until the critical moment when they attempted to remove an inflatable plug designed to contain gas emissions.

Chaos Inside the Habitat

The turning point came when Dr. Rishi attempted to deflate the plug, inadvertently causing water to flood the habitat rapidly. The situation devolved into chaos as water levels rose swiftly, trapping the divers inside.

Christopher Boodram [09:36]: "His camera as Rishi release the valve for the air to come out. And I saw the water just start to rise. So I say, yo, this thing filling up? Let me get out of here. Stop all the way out of here."

Christopher describes the overwhelming force that pulled him into the pipe, a sensation akin to being sucked into a powerful vortex with little control over his fate.

Christopher Boodram [10:17]: "Instead of feeling gravity pulling me down, I actually felt like the water just come up and meet me."

Struggling against the relentless movement, Christopher managed to navigate through the narrow confines of the pipe, facing excruciating pain and the threat of toxic fumes as his fellow divers succumbed to the flooding habitat.

Desperate Measures and Heartbreaking Decisions

Within the pipe, Christopher encountered his colleagues in various states of distress. The dire situation forced him to make unimaginable decisions, including leaving injured divers behind to seek help—a choice that would haunt him profoundly.

Christopher Boodram [28:07]: "And then I tell them, I said, listen, I need to go and get help. Staying here waiting for somebody to come and rescue me may not happen."

As he navigated the labyrinthine pipe, Christopher's survival instincts clashed with his loyalty to his friends, culminating in a heartrending moment where he had to physically remove a panicked diver, Kaz Jr., to continue his mission to save lives.

Christopher Boodram [30:13]: "These were his friends, his brothers, as he calls them. They had worked together for years... he has to kick Kaz Jr.'s hand from his foot."

A Fragile Escape and Lingering Guilt

After an exhaustive struggle, Christopher reached another air pocket within the pipe, barely managing to breathe amidst the oppressive environment. His rescue was momentarily successful when fellow diver Ronald Ramutar and Corey arrived to pull him from the pipe.

Christopher Boodram [37:25]: "So I say, who's that boy? He said, yes, boy, it's me."

Despite his survival, Christopher was left with the devastating realization that his friends remained trapped. Days in intensive care only amplified his agony as he grappled with the fact that his efforts to save everyone had fallen tragically short.

Christopher Boodram [41:21]: "So only maybe until the third or fourth day I get to find out that these guys haven't been rescued yet. And that hit me so hard because I couldn't understand."

Unanswered Questions and Mounting Suspicion

While recovering, Christopher learned that despite his desperate pleas, no rescue mission had successfully extracted his colleagues. The arrival of armed men at Berth 6, under strict orders to block access to the pipe, raised suspicions about foul play or a cover-up.

Christopher Boodram [42:30]: "We realized they were serious and there was more than one of them with firearm... They were under strict orders not to let anyone dive into that pipe."

This revelation propels the narrative towards deeper investigations into the lucrative contracts, failing safety standards, and secretive political relationships that may have contributed to the tragedy.

Conclusion and What Lies Ahead

Episode 2 of Pipeline paints a harrowing portrait of survival, loyalty, and the quest for truth in the face of corporate and political obstruction. Christopher Boodram's testimony not only serves as a personal account of the disaster but also as a catalyst for uncovering the systemic failures that allowed such a catastrophe to unfold.

As the series progresses, listeners can anticipate further exploration into the aftermath of the incident, including the unanswered questions about why the divers were left to die and the broader implications for Trinidad and Tobago's oil industry.

Key Takeaways

• Personal Struggle: Christopher Boodram's journey from a troubled individual to a responsible family man underscores the human element behind the tragedy.

• Tragic Incident: The detailed recounting of the divers' ordeal highlights the critical failure in safety protocols and emergency response.

• Survivor's Guilt: Christopher's survival juxtaposed with the loss of his friends introduces a profound psychological dimension to the narrative.

• Mystery and Suspicion: The involvement of armed personnel post-rescue hints at deeper issues within the contracting and political framework governing the oil pipeline operations.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Christopher Boodram [00:15]: "More or less death."

• Christopher Boodram [06:50]: "Six o' clock in the morning, we headed out. The place was overcast, rain was falling. Place was cold, so I put on my wetsuit while the badge was going out."

• Christopher Boodram [09:36]: "His camera as Rishi release the valve for the air to come out. And I saw the water just start to rise. So I say, yo, this thing filling up? Let me get out of here. Stop all the way out of here."

• Christopher Boodram [30:13]: "These were his friends, his brothers, as he calls them. They had worked together for years... he has to kick Kaz Jr.'s hand from his foot."

• Christopher Boodram [42:30]: "We realized they were serious and there was more than one of them with firearm... They were under strict orders not to let anyone dive into that pipe."

Production Credits

• Host and Reporter: Isabelle Stanley
• Additional Reporting: Andrew Jehring
• Producer: Bella Soames
• Additional Production: John Rogers
• Sound Design: John Scott
• Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini
• Executive Producers: Bella Soames, Jamie East

Contact and Support

• Email: pipeline@dailymail.com
• Support Christopher Boodram: Support Link

Stay tuned for the next episode of Pipeline, where Isabelle Stanley continues to unravel the layers of this tragic event, seeking answers and justice for the fallen divers.