Cyclone in the English Channel: Search & Rescue Go

Summary

Real Survival Stories: Cyclone in the English Channel: Search & Rescue Go

Hosted by John Hopkins | Released on February 27, 2025

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Introduction

In the gripping episode titled "Cyclone in the English Channel: Search & Rescue Go," Real Survival Stories delves into the harrowing rescue mission led by Royal Navy diver J. O'Donnell during Cyclone Kirill in January 2007. This storm, one of the most severe ever recorded in the region, set the stage for a life-and-death struggle as O'Donnell faced overwhelming odds to save 26 crew members from the sinking container ship, Napoli.

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Meet J. O'Donnell: A Lifesaver in Training

John Hopkins introduces listeners to J. O'Donnell, a 33-year-old search and rescue (SAR) diver with a profound dedication to saving lives. O'Donnell's journey began in his childhood, inspired by visits to the Flambards theme park near the Coldrows airbase in Cornwall. His passion led him to join the Navy in 1991, where he transitioned from an aircraft engineer to an elite SAR diver after rigorous training.

Notable Quote:

[10:21] J. O'Donnell: "I'd really go on at my parents, we've got to go to Flambards because it was jets taking off and helicopters taking off and circuiting day and night. I guess some of it is, you know, subliminal, but it probably was that hook. I want to do that, I want to be in those helicopters, I want to do that."

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The Onset of Cyclone Kirill

On the morning of January 18, 2007, the Culdro's Royal Navy Air Station in Cornwall buzzed with anticipation and anxiety as meteorologists warned of Cyclone Kirill's impending fury. Despite not being scheduled for duty that day, O'Donnell chose to stay and prepare for potential emergencies, a decision that would prove pivotal.

Notable Quote:

[05:58] J. O'Donnell: "I just had a moment, a split second thought that this scenario was impossible. It was impossible to win, it was impossible to get over because it felt like a near death moment."

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The Napoli's Dire Straits

The MSC Napoli, one of the largest container ships, was navigating through the English Channel when Cyclone Kirill struck with unprecedented force. Massive waves tore through the hull, creating catastrophic cracks that forced the crew of 26 to abandon ship. Confined within a small, lifeboat amidst relentless waves and limited supplies, their survival seemed bleak.

Notable Quote:

[03:15] J. O'Donnell: "The sea was just I just never seen it that big. It's the middle of the English Channel and it was monstrous."

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The Rescue Mission Begins

As the storm intensified, Rescue 194, a Sea King helicopter piloted by O'Donnell, was dispatched to aid the stranded crew. Simultaneously, Rescue 193 attempted to assist by deploying heavy rescue lines, but the extreme weather conditions rendered their efforts futile. O'Donnell, witnessing the chaos from the lifeboat, realized that immediate and specialized intervention was necessary.

Notable Quote:

[18:32] J. O'Donnell: "Basically, they lost three or four of Their highlines, they snapped all of them. And I'm jumping up and down in the aircraft going, Chuck, get on the radio. I know how to do this. Tell them to move, tell them we can do this."

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Facing Insurmountable Odds

O'Donnell faced a critical decision: attempt to jump into the tumultuous sea or be winched down into the lifeboat amidst towering 50-foot waves. Drawing on his extensive training and unwavering resolve, he opted for the latter, a choice that plunged him into one of the most challenging rescues of his career.

Notable Quote:

[19:22] J. O'Donnell: "I was looking at this life raft thinking do I jump out the aircraft to the lifeboat or do I get winched?"

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A Battle Against Nature

Securing himself atop the lifeboat, O'Donnell battled relentless waves that threatened to hurl both him and the lifeboat into the sea. Amidst this chaos, he encountered multiple obstacles: tangled rescue lines, communication breakdowns with the crew, and physical exhaustion from enduring the storm's wrath.

Notable Quote:

[22:02] J. O'Donnell: "So that was quite emotional and that was just number one."

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Turning the Tide: A Miraculous Save

At his lowest moment, on the brink of despair as a massive wave nearly swept him over, O'Donnell experienced what he describes as a "minor miracle." The lifeboat unexpectedly stabilized, allowing him to free the tangled rescue line. This turning point reignited the mission, enabling him to systematically rescue each crew member despite the dwindling time and energy.

Notable Quote:

[31:39] J. O'Donnell: "I had this moment where we weren't and somebody was helping me out. And to this day I can't explain how a life raft like that with the weight that was in it and me on the top and I was looking vertically down this wave and it stuck to a wave... somehow side on 50, 60 foot up in the air."

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Completing the Rescue Amid Exhaustion

With Rescue 193's fuel critically low, O'Donnell raced against time to save the remaining crew members. Each successful extraction was a testament to his extraordinary resilience and determination. Despite sustaining a head injury during the process, he persevered until the final sailor was secured.

Notable Quote:

[37:19] J. O'Donnell: "I'm staying on this thing. I hope somebody's coming back for me."

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Aftermath and Recognition

Upon returning to base, O'Donnell was met with sincere applause and recognition for his heroic efforts. The footage captured by a fellow crew member showcased the intensity of the rescue, earning O'Donnell accolades, including the Queen's Gallantry Medal. Reflecting on the mission, he emphasizes the importance of mental and physical resilience, teamwork, and the unwavering commitment to never give up.

Notable Quote:

[44:54] J. O'Donnell: "It's a huge team effort, every part of it. Just because I was the guy on the wire, the guy on the lifeboat, that's kind of my training. That was my choice. And, yeah, it was nice to be recognized afterwards as well."

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Conclusion

"Cyclone in the English Channel: Search & Rescue Go" is a compelling narrative that highlights the extraordinary courage and perseverance of J. O'Donnell. Faced with overwhelming natural forces and limited resources, his unwavering determination saved numerous lives, exemplifying the essence of true heroism. This episode not only recounts a dramatic rescue but also offers profound insights into the human spirit's capacity to triumph in the face of adversity.

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Looking Ahead: Next Episode Teaser

Stay tuned for the next episode of Real Survival Stories, where host John Hopkins recounts the tale of Andrej Oregvany, a Slovakian outdoor enthusiast who confronts the deadly power of lightning during a treacherous thunderstorm in the Tatra Mountains.

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To listen to this episode without waiting a week, subscribe to Noiser+ at noiser.com/subscriptions.

Transcript

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[John Hopkins]

Shopify.com promo It's January 18, 2007, in the English Channel, somewhere between the Cornish Peninsula and the northwest coast of France. Cyclonic winds churn the green gray sea. Waves as high as two story houses surge in from the west, white horses galloping at their peaks. A swirling mist covers the icy surface of the water. Visibility is practically zero. Above it all, a Sea king helicopter callsign Rescue 194 hovers for the pilot. To hold position in the face of such ferocious gales takes tremendous skill. Below, a bright orange lifeboat is tossed around like a cork on the towering waves. The pointed vessel is around 20ft long and 7ft wide. The craft has a rigid fiberglass body with an enclosed cabin. Huddled inside are the crew of the container ship Napoli, abandoned after gaping cracks appeared in her hull. The gargantuan waves pummel them with sickening monotony as the craft pitches wildly outside. On the lifeboat's small deck, Royal Navy diver J. O'Donnell clings on precariously as the full savagery of the storm bears down on him. J. Wears the distinctive red wetsuit of a search and rescue diver. His knees bend as he rides each fresh onslaught. Looking up, the 33 year old can make out the orange nose and tail of Rescue 194. A cable trails from the open side of the helicopter, rescue harness on the end. Jay pulls on it, fighting the wind as he brings the line and harness in. So far he has helped half a dozen men to safety, but by his reckoning there are about 20 more to go. He just has to keep going. But then the lifeboat drops like a stone as the mass of water beneath it disappears. A split second later, a 40 foot wave pulses in and hurls the boat sharply back up. Jay holds on for dear life.

[J. O'Donnell]

The sea was just I just never seen it that big. It's the middle of the English Channel and it was monstrous.

[John Hopkins]

In the chaos, the line from the helicopter becomes tangled around two rails on the roof of the cabin. Without It. Jay can't get anyone else to safety. He heaves himself up on top of the lifeboat and lies flat, wedging himself into position, gripping tightly with one hand. With his other free hand, he tries to release the trapped line. He has to work quickly. If the lifeboat sinks down again, the line will go taut. It could snap like an elastic band, whipping back up towards the Sea King. Worst case scenario, it gets caught in the aircraft's tail rotor and brings the chopper down. Another wave, at least 50ft high takes hold of the lifeboat, tilting it until it's almost vertical. All of a sudden, Jay is looking down into the heart of the vortex.

[J. O'Donnell]

And I thought we're going over because I'm at the top of this wave nearly, and there's no way this lifeboat is supposed to be this far up. I was literally vertical, looking down this wave, thinking it's game over. Oh my go. Now I'm going over.

[John Hopkins]

Ever wondered what you would do when disaster strikes if your life depended on your next decision? Could you make the right choice? Welcome to Real Survival Stories. These are the astonishing tales of ordinary people thrown into extraordinary situations. People suddenly forced to fight for their lives. In this episode, we meet petty officer J O'Donnell, a 33 year old search and rescue diver. In January 2007, as a major once in a lifetime cyclone approaches the UK, Jay finds himself responsible for the lives of 26 people. After a catastrophe in the English Channel, a tiny lifeboat stuffed with crewmen is left at the mercy of the furious sea. As Jay flies in to help, it becomes clear that this rescue mission is beyond anything he or his colleagues have ever encountered. Technical issues, appalling conditions and even a man overboard all make the mission seem insurmountable. And if he is to save these 26 souls, Jay also has to find a way to survive himself.

[J. O'Donnell]

I just had a moment, a split second thought that this scenario was impossible. It was impossible to win, it was impossible to get over because it felt like a near death moment.

[John Hopkins]

I'm John Hopkins from the Noiser Network. This is Real Survival Stories. It's the morning of January 18, 2007 at Culdro's Royal Navy Air station in Cornwall, also known as HMS Seahawk. In one of the airbase's busy meeting rooms, J. O'Donnell takes his seat among his colleagues. He doesn't know it yet, but today is going to be the most remarkable work day of his life. And the irony is he's not even supposed to be on duty today. He's already worked the night shift and he's all ready to go home. Just one last thing to do. Attend the morning weather briefing. As Jay waits for it to begin, the meeting room is abuzz with talk of an emerging storm. The chatter dies as the man from the Meteorological office begins his presentation. The bespectacled academic doesn't really fit in with the air crewmen and pilots who make up his audience, but he has their full attention. He tells them that a severe cyclonic storm originated three days ago off the coast of Newfoundland. It has now crossed the North Atlantic without losing any of its rage. He gestures to an image on his laptop showing the tightly backed isobars that indicate the cyclone's path. The storm has a name. Kirill. The guy from the Met office describes it as an extremely rare event. There's already been one fatality. His prediction is that when Kirill reaches the open water at the edge of the Channel, the winds will get particularly intense. The briefing breaks up. Jay decides to stick around. If things are going to kick off, an extra diver will come in handy. But in all the excitement, he forgets to call his wife, Louise.

[J. O'Donnell]

He was quite manic in the squadron because day to day there was something like eight helicopters on the squadron. We would do military tasking and training, search and rescue training as well, plus obviously the search and rescue aircraft. 193 was the duty, 194 was the backup and you could provide others. And so it was a busy old day and the weather was building.

[John Hopkins]

Just after 11am, the alarm sounds. The duty SAR commander answers an urgent SOS call. A large vessel is sinking in the Channel. The crew of 26 has abandoned ship. At the end of his last shift, Jay left his dive set in the duty helicopter called Rescue 193 ready for his next mission. 193 is fully prepped, ready for takeoff. It makes sense for Jay to go out with them, especially as there's no other diver on the base that morning. He rushes to the ops room and presents himself to the Tsar commander of 193.

[J. O'Donnell]

I said, I heard there's loads of people in the ward. Are you launching? Are you being tasked? Do you want me to come? And he went, I won't swear. But there was a lot of swearing involved. And he said, no, I don't. We've got a crew and you can get that dive set out of my aircraft now.

[John Hopkins]

This decision is hard to understand, baffling even. After all, Jay's whole life has prepared him for moments like this. It all started on childhood holidays in Cornwall when A young Jay and his family would visit the Flambards theme park, which just happened to be next door to the airbase at Coldros.

[J. O'Donnell]

I'd really go on at my parents, we've got to go to Flambards because it was jets taking off and helicopters taking off and circuiting day and night. I guess some of it is, you know, subliminal, but it probably was that hook. I want to do that, I want to be in those helicopters, I want to do that.

[John Hopkins]

In 1991, aged 17, J took the first steps towards achieving his childhood dream. He joined the Navy.

[J. O'Donnell]

I grew up on the river in a small village in Devon and so it was always part and parcel with the actual seaside, the water, the rivers, everything like that. And that led me into sea cadets, which led me into the Navy. I was always had that view that I was going to join the Navy. It was just the one thing I always wanted to do.

[John Hopkins]

After eight weeks basic training, he moved into his chosen specialty. Jay began as an aircraft engineer before going on to serve in Bosnia, which included a spell on the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. It was during this time that he had a glimpse of what he really wanted to do with his life.

[J. O'Donnell]

There was guys hanging out at the back of the helicopter and I thought, who's that? What do they do? I just didn't know enough. That looks even cooler, I want to do that. And they said, yeah, you can do that. It can be an air crewman, but it's not for the faint hearted. It's a lot of hard work.

[John Hopkins]

But hard work isn't something Jay shies away from. And in 1997 he transferred to Coldrows to undertake the arduous training required to become a helicopter air crewman. After two years of graft, he was preparing for the front line. The next step was to take a ship's divers course.

[J. O'Donnell]

And that was a shock. That was a shock to the system. It's three week long course where you get shouted at, screamed at, you're on a conveyor belt and you just don't seem to stop, apart from when you shut your eyes at night. And after that I thought, why on earth did I ever sign up to do that?

[John Hopkins]

But he got through it, receiving extensive training in underwater surveillance, clearance and communication. After that, Jay went on to take an even more grueling course in order to become an elite search and rescue.

[J. O'Donnell]

Diver, which by the way, I'd like to point out, was the hardest eight, nine weeks of my life. It's hard for a reason and it's constant jumping off of high platforms in just your wetsuit, fins, mask and snorkel to start with. Before, you did it with a dive set on to teach you to do that day and then night and automate it so that you were safe, you had the technique. Then, you know, we'd go off on dive after dive. Tuesdays and Thursdays we were night diving as well. So it's a really long day and you're just constantly wet, soaking, freezing cold in a wetsuit.

[John Hopkins]

Again. Through the long, soggy, exhausting days, Jay stayed the course, eventually becoming a fully fledged SA diver. He had found his true vocation in life.

[J. O'Donnell]

I lived it and I loved it. And I thought, this is what I'm made for, this is what I'm on the planet for.

[John Hopkins]

So as a storm sweeps across the channel, putting 26 lives in danger, Jay is understandably frustrated when he's told by a colleague that he's not needed. There are survivors in the water and he can help.

[J. O'Donnell]

I took my dive set out and I was in a bit of a huff about that, thinking, what? Ridiculous, ridiculous. I'm here.

[John Hopkins]

But then, amid the frenzy of the busy airbase, another man named Chuck comes jogging up to Jay.

[J. O'Donnell]

The SAR commander of 194 comes to speak to me. Jay, Jay, what are you doing? And I was like, what do you mean, what am I doing? I'm getting all my stuff out of 193. They don't want to dive. He goes, we do, we're getting launched. There's 26 people. I said, right, I'm going to chuck it all in the back of the aircraft. Yeah, go on then.

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[John Hopkins]

He dashes over to helicopter 194, flings his kid inside and clambers on board. Jay puts on his ear defenders muting the roar of the chopper as it jolts skywards. The wind speed is at the absolute limit of what's safe for a helicopter launch. It feels like a giant invisible hand is taking hold of the fuselage and angrily shaking it. The pilot steadies the aircraft. The helicopter turns, tilts forwards and hurtles into the crosswinds. It's not long before they're out over the open water.

[J. O'Donnell]

The sea gets bigger and rougher. The wind's really, really building. And by now the storm's really hitting.

[John Hopkins]

The waters are so violent, it's little wonder a ship has run into trouble. Today, the MSC Napoli is one of the biggest container ships in service. Nearly 900ft long, this gigantic vessel is too wide to pass through the Panama Canal. And yet she's manned by a crew of just 26. Sailing out of Antwerp on the morning of January 17th. Her route took her directly into the path of the oncoming storm. Despite the atrocious weather, the Napoli plowed on. The captain was monitoring reports coming from the Met Office and was confident she could withstand anything the storm threw at her. At around 11am, a series of massive waves pummeled the side of the ship. Then the crew heard the crack of metal torn asunder. The huge plates that formed the hull bulged outwards like a giant blister. A moment later, the ship rolled, revealing a large vertical crack below the waterline. The captain had no choice and the order to abandon ship was given. The crew clambered into their bulky immersion suits and took their places inside a tiny lifeboat which was winched down into the sea. Now all they can do is wait. Meanwhile, Rescue 194 heads out over the water with Jay on board.

[J. O'Donnell]

The sea was just. I'd just never seen it that big. It's the middle of the English Channel and it was monstrous.

[John Hopkins]

The other helicopter, Rescue 193, is already on the scene. They're trying to lower a weighted line to the lifeboat. The little orange vessel writhes in the swell, most of its passengers hidden inside a covered compartment. The Napoli crew are not trained in high line techniques. Jay watches as they lose several lines, snapped up and wrenched away by the winds. It's obvious that they need to get a diver down there and he's the only one available.

[J. O'Donnell]

Basically, they lost three or four of Their highlines, they snapped all of them. And I'm jumping up and down in the aircraft going, Chuck, get on the radio. I know how to do this. Tell them to move, tell them we can do this. And he's going, calm down Jay, calm down. Yeah, I know, I know. If you don't do it, I'm going to get on the radio and I'm going to scream at them, get out of the way. And then they came on the radio almost like they heard me. Yeah. 194, this is 193. We think that probably be in a better position with your diver. More tools in the box.

[John Hopkins]

Clearly unable to help right now. 193 pulls away and leaves things to 194. Now it is all on Jay. He calms himself and assesses the situation. Straight away it's clear he has a big decision to make.

[J. O'Donnell]

I was looking at this life raft thinking do I jump out the aircraft to the lifeboat or do I get winched?

[John Hopkins]

Jumping into the sea is what he's trained to do. But the size of the waves gives him pause for thought. The surface is a constantly shifting frenzy of watery hills and valleys.

[J. O'Donnell]

I just thought I could be swimming up against a 40, 50 foot wave and not get anywhere and not get to the vessel. Cuz it was skittish, it was all over the place. It was getting flipped as the waves came over and I thought I could just burn all my energy trying to swim for this vessel and not get to it.

[John Hopkins]

Winching down it is rapidly. The winch is attached to Jay's harness and he readies himself by the open door of the helicopter. He takes off his ear defenders and the full roar of the storm hits him. It's like standing in the blast of a jet engine. He nods once to the winch operator, then swings out into the air. As the line is paid out and Jay descents, he is increasingly at the mercy of the winds. Holding onto the cable with one hand, he uses the other to signal to the pilots so they can maneuver the helicopter closer to the lifeboat. There's no denying the severity of this situation. The likelihood of everyone making it out alive is slim and becoming even slimmer. Jay knows all too well how harrowing his job can be. Back in September 2000, a Greek passenger ferry went down off the coast of Paros in the Aegean Sea. 81 people died. Jay was there as part of the rescue effort. While many were saved, Jay also pulled three dead out of the water on that tragic day. The incident haunted him for years.

[J. O'Donnell]

I Luckily don't have nightmares about it anymore, but I certainly did for a long time. There was obviously some pictures burnt into my memory that I could do without.

[John Hopkins]

It's something he's had to learn to deal with. And right now, as the waves rise up to meet him, Jay doesn't have time to dwell on the past.

[J. O'Donnell]

So there I am. I'm on the winch now, knowing exactly what I'm doing, giving hand signals. Lower the winch. Okay, raise the winch. One minute I'm underwater and I'm. I'm like, oh, I'm in the water. I've got some buoyancy because I've got my wetsuit on and I've got, like a mini life jacket thing, and I'm trying to swim. And the next minute I'm 20, 30 foot in the air, still swimming, no water.

[John Hopkins]

It's chaos. Jay is flung up and down, in and out of the sea. But he draws slowly, precariously, closer to the lifeboat until he can smell the diesel fumes from the engine. There's a small exposed platform with a guardrail just in front of the door to the covered cabin. Jay aims for it and manages to get a foothold. As the cable snaps tight, he releases his winch hook, severing his connection with the aircraft. Standing on that platform is like standing on a bucking bronco back and forth, side to side. The lifeboat seems determined to throw him into the water. Inside the cabin, it's a grim scene.

[J. O'Donnell]

And then I leaned in to these really sad, solemn faces of the crew that were absolutely shoehorned in there in their survival suits, and there was probably two or three foot of a mixture of water, vomit, diesel. The smell was absolutely breathtaking. So I could see why they were all pretty miserable and they're just continually being sick and they're all just squeezed in there.

[John Hopkins]

Many of the crew seem to have given up. They're obviously in shock and by the looks of it, severely dehydrated. Jay tries to chivy them along, but they don't seem to understand what he's saying. His schoolboy French isn't getting him far.

[J. O'Donnell]

Because it was French registered, we were told. And I just said, bonjour, Sava. But really trying to be uplifting. And nobody spoke to me. Nobody spoke to me. And they didn't converse in English. And I was like, oh, great.

[John Hopkins]

Talking to the men is not just a question of putting them at ease. They have a part to play in their own rescue. To follow Jay's instructions. Understanding him or not understanding him could Be the difference between life and death. Jay get straight to work. He mentally triages the crew, identifying the weakest, the ones he has to rescue first. Back out on the platform, trying to communicate with a helicopter, he realizes his radio is waterlogged. It's the last thing he needs.

[J. O'Donnell]

I've got to get them out. And I thought, how do I convey that to the aircraft? Without any communications, Jay will have to.

[John Hopkins]

Rely on hand signals again. And somehow, flailing his limbs through the spray and the bluster, he manages to make himself understood.

[J. O'Donnell]

They sent me down high line, which I got. Then comes the winch hook. And I was saying two times, rescue strops. So they sent the rescue strops and they put weighted bags as well on the bottom of the winch wire to stop it getting blown around so much. Oh, my God. It was a mission. It was an absolute mission. It would go down to the wave height. And I ended up pulling these weighted bags of winch two strops that were like sea anchors through the water because the aircraft was obviously hovering just away from us. And that in itself was absolutely knackering. And I thought, I can't do this.

[John Hopkins]

Hauling the weighty rescue line into the vessel, it quickly becomes obvious that Jay isn't going to be able to rescue two men at a time, not with the two heavy strops and not with the bulky immersion suits the crew are wearing.

[J. O'Donnell]

So I took one of the strops off, and I realized I'm gonna have.

[John Hopkins]

To do one at a time, one at a time. In a race against time, the helicopter can't stay in the air forever. And there are other limitations, too.

[J. O'Donnell]

There's only, firstly, so much time they've got before they have to go off task and refuel. And there's only so many seats we can give these people.

[John Hopkins]

An already tough mission is growing tougher by the second. But Jay has to just take things step by step. He beckons the first sailor out onto the platform. With a firm nudge, he has the man kneel down so that he can fasten the harness around his body. And it's now that the language barrier becomes a real obstacle. Something absolutely imperative has to be communicated to the sailor, or this rescue could go very wrong.

[J. O'Donnell]

Arms down by your side. Must have your arms down by your side, because otherwise they could slip out. And I'm not going with them because just this take forever.

[John Hopkins]

Jay mimes keeping his own arms in place at the sides of his body and hopes for the best. The first man rises slowly into the air and thankfully keeps his arms down as instructed.

[J. O'Donnell]

So that was quite emotional and that was just number one.

[John Hopkins]

Jay watches the man all the way up to the helicopter hatch before finally he sees him pulled to safety inside the Sea King. One down or rather up 25 to go.

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[John Hopkins]

Lifeboat, overstuffed with sick and distressed men, continues to bounce through the tempest. Jay's work has barely begun, but one by one he barks at the sailors, instructing them to join him out on the deck. Each time, he has to tap the men on the back of their knees, forcing them to kneel down on the platform so he can get the harness on. Eventually they see what's expected of them and the process gets a little more efficient. Before too long, he's got six or seven of the men safely inside. Rescue 194. The storm shows no sign of abating.

[J. O'Donnell]

The life raft's really starting to move all over the place, even more than was before. The boats obviously going up and down these huge waves. The aircraft's climbing and descending and the winch operator has to pay in cable and give you cable. So there's all these moving parts all happening at the same time in horrendous conditions.

[John Hopkins]

Suddenly the lifeboat plummets. The winch operator compensates by paying out more cable, but then a 50 foot wave shoots the boat up, simultaneously spinning it round. The loose cable becomes tangled around the rails on the roof of the boat. This freak combination of factors threatens to turn an emergency into a disaster.

[J. O'Donnell]

So not only is that the lifeline, but it's my lifeline as well. And the Sea King only had one.

[John Hopkins]

Winch he quickly weighs up his options. He has to get on top of the lifeboat and free the cable.

[J. O'Donnell]

So in 50, 60 foot waves, I'm now climbing on top of this life raft. And I suddenly felt extremely open to the environments, more than normal because now I'm on top of this cork in the ocean, trying to get the winch wire free. It's now leaning so bad that I've got my feet down on the other guardrail on the other side of it as I'm trying to free the top guardrail with a winch wire in my left hand. And the wave built, and the wave built, and the wave built and we kept going up, up, up this wave and I'm clinging on for dear life.

[John Hopkins]

The lifeboat is riding on the side of the wave tilted over almost 90 degrees. All his years of experience, the months of rigorous training, it's of little help right now.

[J. O'Donnell]

I'm suddenly looking straight down this 50 foot wave and I thought, oh, it's game over. I just had a moment, a split second thought that this scenario was impossible. It was impossible to win, it was impossible to get over because it felt like a near death moment.

[John Hopkins]

Even if he survives this without that lifeline, the rescue operation will end in failure. And then at his lowest moment, when all seems lost, a minor miracle seems to occur.

[J. O'Donnell]

You know, I wasn't thinking about anything else but the rescue mission. You don't. But in that split second I thought, I'm toast. And then I had this moment where we weren't and somebody was helping me out. And to this day I can't explain how a life raft like that with the weight that was in it and me on the top and I was looking vertically down this wave and it stuck to a wave Somehow side on 50, 60 foot up in the air. And the next minute it flipped on the crest of the wave and I was leaning the other way and I'd.

[John Hopkins]

Freed the cable somehow the lifeboat has defied gravity and the lion has been extricated. The rescue is back on. Jay scrambles back down onto the platform. What's happened seems to undermine all logic. It's like someone has intervened to save him.

[J. O'Donnell]

It's a weird experience because I'd not long lost my dad in 2006, in May, which is, you know, is awful for anybody. And I don't know if I'd really dealt with it because I was just so busy and anyway, it was some time after and you know, obviously we're in the January following and, and then it just felt like there was somebody Something dad helping me.

[John Hopkins]

With the line. Freed Jay barely misses a beat and gets back to his mission. Another guy. Harness on, arms by the side. Go, go, go. And repeat. Eventually, half the Napoli crew are inside. Rescue 194. The co pilot signals that they have to head back to base. They're low on fuel and if they take on any more weight, they won't make it.

[J. O'Donnell]

I'm still on the life raft. I'm cold, I'm wet, I'm tired. It's been going on for, for some time now and we've got to start all over again. So Rescue 193 comes in.

[John Hopkins]

This is the helicopter whose commander turned Jay away earlier. But all that's forgotten now there are more important things to worry about.

[J. O'Donnell]

They had extra fuel, they came in and they hovered. They gave me a high line that went well. And the life raft is now bouncing because it's only got 12 plus me in it. And the storm's not giving up. No, weather's not giving up. If anything, it's getting worse.

[John Hopkins]

Jake keeps going. But as the rescue mission progresses, yet another somewhat unexpected issue develops.

[J. O'Donnell]

As the rescue boat got lighter, it got more skittish. It was getting thrown about even more than it was before. So it's squirming left to right and being flipped on the waves even more. At some point, I got the winch hook straight in the middle of the forehead, which apparently was bleeding. It was bleeding when I got back.

[John Hopkins]

Jay shakes off the blow to the head. He's nearly there now, just a few more men to go. But then a sailor steps forward who presents a problem, a big problem.

[J. O'Donnell]

And then we get to some 6 foot 7, I'm gonna say, giant of a man who had a duffel bag in his hand. I get it. It's got all his worldly belongings. It's probably got photos, letters, tech. I don't know that. He was adamant it was going with him and I said no. And then he looked really angry.

[John Hopkins]

With communication breaking down and no time to lose, Jay takes a big swing, literally.

[J. O'Donnell]

I had to punch him in the arm to release his duffel bag. And then at the same point and hoping I wasn't going to get a punch in the face, get a rescue strap on him and get him outside.

[John Hopkins]

Despite Jay's fears, the big man doesn't hit back. But as he continues to wrestle with him, trying to get him onto his knees so he can fit the harness, what happens next is far worse than a punch in the face.

[J. O'Donnell]

And then the boat pitched and Rolled dramatically, and he went over the side, and I'm holding onto him, and I'm not attached to the boat or anything. And he's now at the side of the boat in the water, and he's in this rescue strop. And I'm holding his weight up, thinking, this is the hardest job of my life now, because he's got some real weight. And of course, as the boat pitch, you get like twice or three times the force of gravity. And it took all of my energy to wait my turn, hold onto him, keep his head above water, keep the rescue hoist clear of entanglements, and then at that right moment, get him light, get the boat pitching, and pull him back onto the platform. He was looking even less happy by then.

[John Hopkins]

Wet, shivering and dumbfounded, the giant sailor is finally secured and lifted into the helicopter. There are only a handful of men left, but that last rescue has left Jay totally drained.

[J. O'Donnell]

Oh, my God, I was so tired. But you're just running off adrenaline. You're literally surviving this storm on this ridiculous, skittish lifeboat with these survivors. And you're the help, you're the rescue. So you just plow on. And I thought you just gotta keep going until the point where they just call it off and they say no.

[John Hopkins]

The question is, when will that happen? When will Jay's team call it a day? And will he have to leave anyone behind? Jay looks up through the swirling sea mist as the 23rd survivor is winched to safety. The helicopter above is packed with trembling men. He sees one of the air crew on Rescue 193 hold up 10 fingers, which means Jay has 10 minutes to get the remaining sailors and himself up into the helicopter. It's going to be tight.

[J. O'Donnell]

Rescue 193 was desperately short of fuel, and they're flagging to me. 10 minutes, 10 minutes and I've got two or three people left, and I'm starting to brick it, thinking, I'm staying on this thing. I hope somebody's coming back for me.

[John Hopkins]

Jay steps up the pace and somehow races through the last few men. It's a blur of shouts and crashes and straps and lines all as the helicopter's fuel reserves rapidly dwindle. At last crumbling with exhaustion. Jay looks up as the final man is unbuckled from the line. Will the hook come back down for him? Or will 193 be forced to leave him behind? Thankfully, the cable starts to descend. Jay's muscles are on fire as he pulls on the line for one last time. He knows what 193 must have gone over the 10 minute cutoff point. By now the aircraft is running on empty, but it's clear they're not going to leave him there. Finally, the hook reaches him. He fastens it to his own harness. He gives the thumbs up and feels the cable tighten as the winch starts to haul him in. With his last vestiges of energy, Jay gets a hand on the helicopter's rail. He pulls himself inside as quickly as he can so the pilot can get going without any further delay. Jay squeezes himself into a space near the door and looks around the crowded chopper. One of the rescued sailors reaches out to shake his hand and thank him. Others follow suit.

[J. O'Donnell]

We just looked around and we all smiled and I was like that was a good job. Wow. And that's the realization is then, oh thank God for that. That's actually done really well in something that could have so easily gone really, really badly really quickly as they do. And then you get a sense of relief.

[John Hopkins]

The moment is made stranger by the fact that Jay's now inside the helicopter that didn't want him earlier and that.

[J. O'Donnell]

Was it with the crew that told me to get out and get my kit out and everybody kind of looked and just nodded and said yeah, good job. Well done.

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[John Hopkins]

With its fuel gauge virtually on empty, Rescue 193 darts through the sky, somehow making it back to the casualty reception area in Culdros just in time.

[J. O'Donnell]

And I walked them in. I wanted to walk them in. It just felt natural to walk them because we always look after people coming in and out of the aircraft. That's rotors running for safety. I took them in and there was a whole HOST OF NAVY People there, you know, all of our friends and colleagues that were getting them warm, giving them telephones, food, water, soup, all of that good stuff, you know, job done.

[John Hopkins]

With the crewman being cared for, Jade takes himself away. He carries his dive bag back to the base. Remarkably, he immediately starts prepping for his next shift.

[J. O'Donnell]

It's the weirdest thing because I, I came in and just, just, that's done now. It's behind me. Just get in the squadron, get all the kit ready, get everything squared away, go and get the mop and bucket, you know, back to normality. And I'm walking in with my dive bag over my back, I think, and in my wetsuit, squidgy feet, bit chilly, starting to warm up. And the air station was quite quiet and everyone was on the balcony and they clapped me in. I thought they were taking the mickey. I was like, get off.

[John Hopkins]

The applause is sincere. While Jay was down on the lifeboat, single handedly battling the elements to get 26 men to safety, a fellow crewman was filming it all from the hovering sea King. The camera has been linked up to the base television to show the footage.

[J. O'Donnell]

And so everybody was hooked to that, to see the events unfold and they were like, oh, my God, that was big. That was really rough. And they clapped me in, which, you know, that was amazing. That was a good feeling.

[John Hopkins]

It starts to become clear that Jay has done something special and others think so too.

[J. O'Donnell]

The media entourage was at Cold Rose waiting for interviews. The boss is like, jay, everybody wants you for an interview.

[John Hopkins]

But before he faces the media circus, he needs a moment to gather his thoughts, to fully take in what he has endured and accomplished today.

[J. O'Donnell]

I'm like, seriously, I've been out all day, I'm absolutely soaking and I just need a shower and a change.

[John Hopkins]

When he's ready, Jay goes to the hangar where the reporters are gathered and gives a string of interviews. It's 9pm before he gets home. As he pulls up onto the drive, he remembers that he never got round to calling his wife Louise to tell her that he was working an extra shift that day. Fortunately, she'd already found out from another source.

[J. O'Donnell]

It's the evening news, 6:00 news. My wife's mother is on the phone to her going, have you seen the tv? Turn on the news, turn on the news. And that's when my wife realized where I'd been all day when I was supposed to be home at 9 in the morning.

[John Hopkins]

A few months later, J travels to Buckingham palace to receive the Queen's gallantry medal. After that, there are further awards, both for Jay and the crews of Rescue 193 and 194. Eventually, it all truly sinks in. But he acknowledges he didn't do it on his own.

[J. O'Donnell]

It's a huge team effort, every part of it. Just because I was the guy on the wire, the guy on the lifeboat, that's kind of my training. That was my choice. And, yeah, it was nice to be recognized afterwards as well. But everybody from, you know, the air station goes above and beyond. The air traffickers give you priority and everything you could want. The engineers get the whole squadron up and ready. They've already got your aircraft serviceable, ready to go 24 7. Everybody in the rest of Caldros that then got involved with warming people and feeding them, it's just, it was an amazing, amazing effort all around.

[John Hopkins]

80 lives were lost during Cyclone Kirill. If it hadn't been for Jay, the death toll would have been 106. He says that from time to time. He wonders how he got through it, reflecting on the sheer toughness that mission required.

[J. O'Donnell]

It was having the mental resilience, having the physical resilience. I was always really fit and trained hard. And that helps your mental health. I'm a massive, firm believer in that. It's not wanting to let people down. Your crew, the people on that boat. Always do your best. Always work hard. Don't give up. If you need to work harder, work harder even, no matter how you feel about it. And really, you then can apply, apply that to the whole of your life. Everyone is ups and downs, isn't it? That's life. But yeah, never give up. Just soldier on and, and, and keep going. And I think if you kind to people, you always try to help, eventually it'll come good for you.

[John Hopkins]

Next time on Real Survival Stories. What happens when hundreds of millions of electrical volts strike the human body? We meet a man who knows Slovakian Andrej Oregvany is a lover of the great outdoors. In July 2012, weeks before the birth of his second baby, Andrej and two friends head to the western Tatra Mountains to enjoy three peaceful days of backpacking. But the weather has other plans for their trip, and suddenly they find themselves stranded atop a precarious peak during a violent thunderstorm. It's only a matter of time before lightning strikes, and the friends will bear the full force of one of the greatest powers in nature. That's next time on Real Survival Stories. Listen today without waiting a week by subscribing to Noiser Plus.