Loading summary
Transcript117 lines
- [00:00]
A
The new Popeyes and Hot Ones menu is the definition of fire flavor. We've got the sizzling Sriracha dippers 10 out of 10. Time to take it up a notch with the smoking Rojo chicken sandwich. Mm, that's so hot, but it's so good. Now onto the daring dab Ghost Wings. Yep, there it is. I love the spice level attempt. The Popeyes and Hot Ones menu in stores. Our hottest collaboration yet. Love that chicken from Popeyes limited time and participating US restaurants.
- [00:33]
B
It's April 13, 1998, 90 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida. The early morning sun hangs low on the horizon, casting streaks of bruised purple, pink and orange across the rippling expanse of the Gulf of Mexico. Overhead, the sky stretches in a vast, unbroken canvas of blue, disturbed only by the occasional wisp of cloud. The air is still barely a breath of wind. Cutting through this stillness is a lone sport fishing boat, the Aninga. Captain Eric Bingham stands on the flybridge, squinting towards the horizon, his hands resting lazily on the wheel. Nearby, 26 year old mate Johnny Savage is sprawled on the front bench after a late night fishing session in the marina. He's trying to get some much needed shut eye, but sleep won't come. He's too full of adrenaline and anticipation. An exciting trip lies ahead, time spent in the glorious outdoors trying to hook a prize sailfish. But it's not the thrill of a potential catch that jolts him upright. It's a sudden sharp bang, like the roar of a cannon echoing through the boat. Heart pounding, he listens, trying to work out what's causing it. Then it comes again, louder this time. Johnny swings his legs down and stands, bare feet on the warm boards, the deck humming beneath him. He follows the sound to the salon, the boat's main living area. The room's heavy double doors, which should have been clamped shut, are now swinging open and slamming together with each bounce of the hull. Johnny shouts up to Captain Eric, asking him to slow the boat to idle so that he can fix the problem once the Ininga eases into a softer rhythm, Johnny latches the doors tight and climbs the ladder up to the bridge, wiping his hands on his shorts. Problem solved. But as he goes to say something to Eric, he stops. His captain is wearing a deeply strange and unsettling expression. He's frozen, eyes wide, staring straight ahead, out to sea. Johnny spins around, following Eric's gaze, and what he witnesses is mind boggling.
- [03:04]
C
Never seen anything like it for my life. It was like a whole notion. It wasn't like looking forward and Seeing like a cliff, like we're climbing a cliff or anything like that. Or we're climbing a mountain. It was just normal seas and then it was a hole.
- [03:17]
B
The sea ahead looks like something from a sci fi movie. Where there was once a carpet of turquoise, there is now a vast depression, a swirling maw. The edges foam and churn. The surface slopes steeply down into a seemingly bottomless dark center. A silent, impossible void where the ocean should be but isn't. There is no time to change course. Nothing they can do to avoid the yawning chasm. For a moment. The Yninga teeters on the edge, perched on the watery crest like a roller coaster just before the drop. Then the bow tips and the boat tumbles into the jaws of the sea.
- [04:08]
C
The Aninga was 56ft long and that hole was deep enough that basically it turned vertical and dropped down. And as she fell, I just remember this, like how in the world is this even happen?
- [04:30]
B
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 Johnny Savage in April 1998. He is part of a two man crew ferrying a luxury fishing boat from Florida to Cancun, Mexico. A routine job that should take a single day. But nearly 100 miles off the coast, the waters turn against them. Without warning, an incredibly rare and terrifying natural phenomenon rips their vessel apart. No one knows where they are. The radio is dead, the life raft is nowhere to be seen. And the warm turquoise waters around them are teeming with predators. And that's before the storm approaches.
- [05:33]
C
We're 90 miles out, nobody knows where we are. And the thoughts begin to manifest. You're gonna either get eaten by a shark or you're gonna drown. You're gonna die out here anew. It's only a matter of time.
- [05:43]
B
I'm John Hopkins from the Noiser Podcast Network. This his real survival stories. It's 5am on April 13, 1998 in Key West, Florida. A pale moon still lingers in the sky, casting a silver sheen across the marina. Boats bob gently in their slips, their hulls creaking softly against the docks. An occasional splash breaks the silence. A mullet jumping or a tarpon rolling just beneath the surface. On board the Aninga, a sleek custom built 56 foot sport fishing boat, Captain Eric Bingham and 26 year old mate Johnny Savage are preparing for departure for the past two days, they've been hard at work, scrubbing decks, checking fuel lines, restocking gear and running through maintenance checklists getting the vessel ready for the 350 mile crossing to Cancun, Mexico. It's a trip they plan to complete in a single day. But first, breakfast. Eric stands at the galley counter assembling his signature meal. Toasted bagels with smoked salmon topped with slices of fresh tomato and a sprinkle of black pepper. While he waits, Johnny peers out the window. Despite a lifetime spent on the water, the sea hasn't lost its grip on him. As the departure time ticks closer, the sense of anticipation and adventure stirs something in him, just like it did when he was a kid.
- [07:44]
C
I grew up pretty much the southern part of Virginia Beach. It's an area that's rural, a lot of swamps, a lot of places to fish. As a kid, living in the country when you get bored, didn't have Xbox and all that stuff back then. So grab a fishing rod, hop on my bike and travel somewhere to go fishing.
- [08:02]
B
What began as a childhood pastime soon turned into something Johnny was keen to pursue as a profession.
- [08:08]
C
I always got a little bit more excited seeing other people catch fish than when I would catch them myself. And the neat thing about that is how that would end up evolving into a career.
- [08:19]
B
At just 16, Johnny landed his first job as a mate on a headboat. The kind that ferries curious tourists out for a few hours, armed with rental rods and high hopes. It wasn't long before he graduated to private charters, spending longer days with seasoned anglers who knew their way around a reel. It was out there, miles from shore, that Johnny got a taste for the extreme.
- [08:45]
C
I wanted to get to the offshore fishing. It's a little bit more intense as far as the action goes. It gets extremely exciting and it's an adrenaline rush, especially when you're catching thousand pound fish. Potentially, it's man versus fish.
- [08:57]
B
By 25, Johnny had completed an internship with the Department of Defense and was offered a full time position. But he turned it down. The sea was calling. He wanted to make his name as a full time mate on charter boats. But in this line of work, there are no CVs. Everything runs on word of mouth. So when Johnny found himself needing a new gig, a friend put him in touch with Captain Eric Bingham, an experienced Aussie seafarer.
- [09:27]
C
Man, I just fell in love with Eric right away. Just that Australian accent, his personality, and he had knowledge and techniques that I wasn't familiar with. And I saw it as an Exciting opportunity to learn.
- [09:39]
B
Eric had quite the proposition for Johnny. A three month trip aboard the Ininga, traveling to Mexico, Belize and Guatemala alongside the family who owned the vessel. Johnny leapt at the chance and after a trial run to the Bahamas with the host family proved to be a roaring success. The deal was sealed. He'd found his next job.
- [10:05]
D
Lowe's knows how to help make your home holiday ready for less. Get select Style Selections vinyl flooring for just $1.99 per square foot and have it installed before the festivities begin. Our team can help you every step of the way. See a Lowe's red vest associate or visit Lowes.comholidayinstall to get started. Lowe's we help you save basic Install only. Date restrictions apply. Subject to availability. Install by independent contractors. See Associate for details. Contiguous US only mint is still $15.
- [10:35]
E
A month for premium wireless. And if you haven't made the switch yet, here are 15 reasons why you should. One, it's $15 a month. Two, seriously, it's $15 a month. Three, no big contracts. Four, I use it. Five, my mom used to say, are you, are you playing me off? That's what's happening, right? Okay, give it a try. @mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of $45 for.
- [10:58]
F
A three month plan. $15 per month equivalent required. New customer offer first three months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.com.
- [11:07]
B
After breakfast, Johnny and Eric tidy away the last of their gear. The Ininga is loaded with enough supplies for three months at sea. Cancun is the first stop where the family who own the boat are due to meet Johnny and Eric. Everything's prepped, ready to go. Johnny has even managed to sneak aboard his beloved surfboard just in case there's a chance to enjoy Cancun swells.
- [11:32]
C
I took that surfboard down there and I'm like, Cap, you know, would it be right for me to bring my surfboard with me? And he got to look. He's such a good hearted dude and he looked at me, goes, that's all right. All right, buddy, you can bring it, but it's going to stay in your bunk.
- [11:46]
B
Almost everything is in place, but one decision remains. What to do with the epirb, an emergency positioning device and the life raft. They're currently both sitting inside the boat. Moving them up to the cockpit would be an option for easier access should they run into trouble. But conditions right now are ideal. The forecast is clear. The sea is calm, there's barely a breath of wind.
- [12:14]
C
So we left it inside. Just complacency. Our response was typical to the mindset of that day, which was, well, nothing ever happens during the daytime. It's just going to be a beautiful cross. And as a matter of fact, I called that my dad the night before and told him know d we'll call. I'll call you tomorrow night from Mexico. We're going to have a beautiful crossing.
- [12:37]
B
Just before dawn, Captain Eric fires up the engine. The deep thrum of the diesel motor reverberates through the Aninga's hull as she slips from her berth and out into open water. The glow of the marina fades behind them to a soft shimmer. Before long, they're in the Gulf Stream. The sun begins to rise. A blaze of red and gold spills across the sea, transforming the calm waters into a field of molten fire.
- [13:09]
C
It was beautiful. I remember I was sitting up there just with Captain Eric. Just listen to his funny stories and just chatting and talking about fishing and just the life and the wisdom that a mate can gain from his captain.
- [13:21]
B
After an hour or so, the weight of a late night begins to catch up with Johnny. He pulls on his wet weather gear and stretches out on a bench near the helm. But before he can drift off, something jolts him upright.
- [13:36]
C
We're going along and all of a sudden we heard a noise that was like bam. Bam. It's like, what in the world is that?
- [13:42]
B
The sound echoes through the boat like gunshots. Johnny sits up and scrambles to the salon. The double doors, normally latched tight, have come loose, slamming back and forth with the motion of the waves. Johnny does a quick fix. It'll need proper attention when they get to Mexico, but it should hold for now. Satisfied, he climbs back to the flybridge to let Eric know it's sorted. But now something else is wrong. Eric is frozen, knuckles white on the wheel, eyes fixed on the water ahead. Johnny, almost in slow motion, turns his head to see. Nothing could have prepared him for what comes next.
- [14:25]
C
Never seen anything like it for my life. It was like a whole notion. It wasn't like looking forward and seeing like a cliff, like we're climbing a cliff or anything like that. Or we're climbing a mountain. It was just normal seas. And then it was a hole ahead of them.
- [14:40]
B
A chasm has opened in the water. Impossible, seemingly unnatural. With no time to react, the boat comes to a stop on the precipice of a wave, rocking ominously. Time seems to stand still as the vortex swirls below them. And then they're falling.
- [15:03]
C
That hole Was deep enough that. That when her bow went off of it, it turned vertical and dropped down. And as she fell, I just remember this. Like, how in the world is this even happening?
- [15:18]
B
What Johnny doesn't know is that he has just encountered what is known as a rogue wave. Also colloquially called a freak wave or monster wave. It is an extremely rare ocean swell that towers over everything around it, Often exceeding twice the height of the surrounding seas, causing enormous echoing troughs in the water. At one time, rogue waves were considered a Myth. But in 1995, one struck an oil platform in the North Sea, and for the first time, a rogue wave was recorded and confirmed. Most vessels that meet one don't survive. And right now, it seems the Ininga will be no exception. Falling vertically, the hull smashes into the wall of water with sickening force. Bulkheads shear. A deep crack rips open along the starboard bow, Tearing the vessel apart.
- [16:16]
C
We're 90 miles out. Nobody knows where we are, as I saw, Just the debris and everything up in front of us. That's when I turned around to Captain Eric, and I'm like, she's going down.
- [16:26]
B
Even as the vessel fractures and seawater floods its every nook and cranny, Captain Eric's experience comes to the fore. He races to the flybridge, reaching instinctively for the radio.
- [16:38]
C
I remember seeing him reaching over to his left, which is where our radios were, VHF radios, and he stopped. Basically, our first line of defense in this situation. To save our life is one word that's said three times. Mayday. Mayday. Mayday. And when he stopped, I knew that wasn't good because he never picked up the radio. The radios were already dead.
- [17:06]
B
The impact has wiped out any chance of communication with the outside world. Eric shouts for Johnny to grab the life jackets. Then he turns, heading below in a desperate attempt to retrieve the epirb, the emergency radio beacon they'd stored earlier. It's their last hope. Johnny rushes to the hatch, desperate to find the life jackets, which might buy them some time. But there is another problem. As he throws open the hatch, chaos greets him. The storage space has been transformed into a tangle of equipment and gear. The life jackets are in there somewhere, but buried deep. Johnny claws at the mess, tossing items aside, his breath growing ragged. He casts a sideways look through the door. The Aninga is listing at a sharp angle, and water is pouring in. He can't wait any longer. If he does, he might become trapped. Instead, he runs out onto what remains of the deck to check on Eric. He is having no luck either. The doors of the salon have warped, meaning Eric can't open. He is pounding on the glass windows, but it's no good. The pains are simply too strong. The Aninga lists again, groaning violently as water surges across the deck.
- [18:29]
C
And that's when I told Eric, I think we need to get away from this thing. And the moment we cleared is when she rolled over. She capsized and rolled over and dropped down.
- [18:45]
B
If you thought goldenly breaded McDonald's chicken.
- [18:48]
G
Couldn'T get more golden, think Golder, because.
- [18:51]
B
New Sweet and Smoky Special Edition Gold.
- [18:54]
G
Sauce is here made for your chicken favorites.
- [18:57]
B
And participate in McDonald's for a limited time tonight.
- [19:01]
F
Turn down the noise of the day and focus on the Rest with agz, the nightly drink for winding down and resting up. New from AG1AGZ supports your body's natural sleep cycle with clinically studied key herbs, adaptogens and minerals in amounts supported by research. And no melatonin helping you wake feeling rested, wind down, rest up with Agz. Learn more@drinkagz.com it's mid morning 90 miles.
- [19:35]
B
Off the coast of Key West, Florida. The ocean shimmers, its turquoise waters glowing as if lit from all angles. Johnny Savage and Captain Eric Bingham tread water, watching as the final remnants of the the Yinga slip beneath the surf, leaving only a spool of bubbles in its wake. A few minutes later, the surface is calm once more. There is no evidence that a boat was ever here. There certainly aren't any others in the vicinity. There's barely even a bird in the sky. Johnny and Eric are alone, helpless in shark infested waters. Soon, debris begins popping up around them as the ship dismantles under the ocean's enormous pressure. With a quiet splash, a cool box breaks the surface. It's not a proper inflatable or the emergency beacon, but for now it's as close as they'll get to a lifeline.
- [20:44]
C
We grabbed that cooler, each of us grabbed one handle on it and then we kind of like wrapped our arms around each other in perfect unison. We went into our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. And we just kept saying the full Lord's Prayer over and over and over again. And you know what? When we opened our eyes after that prayer, the Ininga had popped back up.
- [21:07]
B
Mere vessel, or what's left of it, has risen from the depths. The stern section floats beside them, upturned, crumpled and half sunken, its exposed propellers and rudders glinting in the sun. But it floats. For now, it's a possible perch for Eric, a Chance to get him out of the water. And then another stroke of luck. Just beyond the wreckage, Johnny spots his surfboard, still zipped safely in its bag. With his captain's blessing, he peels away from the cooler and starts swimming towards it, though he's barely gone a few meters when agony erupts across his skin. Looking wildly around, he quickly spots the rainbow sheen on the water's surface. Diesel.
- [22:02]
C
I knew where every cut was on my body when I hit the diesel fuel. Just that burning sensation. It's in my eyes, it's in my nose, in my mouth and my ears.
- [22:10]
B
Every scrape, every nick, every raw inch of skin ignites in stinging pain. His throat burns, and he starts to choke on the fumes again. Johnny turns to the heavens.
- [22:23]
C
That prayer was, please, Lord, do not let me throw up. I can't afford to lose this food that's in my stomach because I'm going to need the energy for the fight.
- [22:35]
B
Johnny grits his teeth and battles through. Eventually, he is clear of the noxious fuel and the surfboard is within reach. Pushing himself out of the water, he clambers on, his skin slick with sweat. The board, combined with its padded case, should keep him afloat. However, the moment he shifts his weight, it's obvious that something is wrong. Passing his hand over the bag surface, the problem is clear. The surfboard has snapped in half. It'll float for now, but it won't last. With no time to waste, Johnny turns, eager to make it back to Eric. But once again, there is now nothing but a blanket of blue ocean. The stern has vanished back beneath the surface. And so, it seems, was the captain. Johnny frantically scans the water, his eyes roaming over the dancing waves.
- [23:36]
C
And then I saw him in the water. He was holding onto the cushion one of the bench seats on the bridge. It didn't have much buoyancy to it at all, but it was something to hang on to.
- [23:48]
B
Johnny paddles back to Eric, and together they begin to formulate a plan. More and more debris from the sunken ship is rising to the surface, stretching out in a vast line like a breadcrumb trail on the water. Somewhere along that line might be what they really need. The emergency beacon or the life raft. Something, anything that could increase their odds of making it through this.
- [24:14]
C
So I had a discussion with Eric, and he said, all right, go ahead, buddy. And so I started traveling down that line.
- [24:23]
B
Johnny begins paddling again, balanced awkwardly on the broken surfboard, drifting down the scatter of debris. Familiar items float past the juicy steak fillets they'd packed that Morning. Still in their plastic bag, fishing rods, chunks of the shattered hull. At one point, the main debris trail splits into two separate lines. Johnny picks a lane and follows it, eyes fixed on every scrap. When he reaches the end, empty handed, he doubles back on himself and tries the other line. He paddles right to the end where the wreckage finishes and an endless ocean takes over. But again, he finds nothing that can help. The EPIRB radio beacon and the life raft haven't surfaced. Or if they have, they're not here. It's a major blow.
- [25:19]
C
Mission failure. And you know, my captain gave me an order and I couldn't accomplish it. The thoughts were starting to come to my head of being a failure, being a loser, you know, man, I was part of that decision to not put this EPROM life raft in the cockpit.
- [25:34]
B
Cursing his own past decisions, Johnny battles through the water on his broken surfboard, eventually returning to Eric. When he gets there, the captain has better news for him. More debris has surfaced. Right next to him. Among the scraps of stern and bow, he's managed to salvage some valuable items. He holds up two life jackets. These are the lightweight sort, designed for inland fishing trips rather than an extended stay in the ocean. But they're better than nothing and perhaps even better still. Eric has found the canister of flares. If a boat happens to pass by, they'll at least have a way of trying to draw its attention. Now all they can do is wait.
- [26:21]
C
So Eric, he had his sunglasses on when we went down, so he gave me his sunglasses and he had his ball cap on. So he would kind of watch the horizon and I would look up in the sky. And it's funny, the one thing that we did not want to do was look down. Because when you look down you just see it's like an endless depth. And then you start remembering that you're part of the food chain.
- [26:42]
B
For a while, they simply bob on the surface of the ocean, trying not to allow fear to take hold. In fact, despite their desperate situation, Johnny still manages to appreciate the wonder of where what's around.
- [26:56]
C
The water was absolutely beautiful. I mean, it was like that purpley blue Gulf Stream, deep Caribbean water. It's funny that we did take the time to smell the roses and lift each other up.
- [27:11]
B
Time slips by. An hour, then two. And then quite suddenly, there is a sound from above. A low mechanical hum. Johnny looks to the heavens and tries to track the sound. Emerging from a scrap of wispy cloud is a plane.
- [27:36]
C
Seeing the plane was so super excited, it's like, ah, you know, here we are, here's our rescue. But the plane was up there pretty high. I imagine they were probably flying to Cancun.
- [27:45]
B
Rapidly, they open the flare kit and ignite one. A vivid red plume of smoke hisses and billows skyward as the plane inches closer. Surely the pilot or a bored passenger gazing out of the window must see the bright crimson mist rising from the ocean. But the aircraft doesn't slow down, it doesn't change its course. It passes over and simply vanishes into the distance. The smoke is carried off on the wind and soon Johnny and Eric are back to square one.
- [28:20]
C
I watched the plane go over the horizon. Then it was another one of those lows and feeling pretty crushed because, you know, putting so much hope into that being what was going to save us, that being our salvation.
- [28:39]
B
They resume their positions, floating stubbornly, not looking down. However, there is less conversation now. It seems like conditions around them are starting to mirror their darker mood too. The sky, once a canvas of soft blue and wispy clouds, is fast becoming a blanket of gray. The wind strengthens. The sea, as calm as glass just moments before, begins to churn. White foamy crests break around them.
- [29:15]
C
What we did not know was at 9 o' clock there was a call that had gone from Cancun to Key west. And that call was this, don't send any boats. It's getting bad. So that's a big deal. Typically it's, they give us the conditions and Cap made sure decision what you're going to do. You're going to come or not. That's, that's your call. But for them to say, don't send any boats, it means it's very, very bad. So that storm had developed and that storm was en route to us, jostled.
- [29:43]
B
By the waves, sticking together becomes an enormous challenge. And then in the middle of the afternoon, Eric shouts through the fierce wind, he sees something on the horizon. Amid the chaos of the heaving water.
- [30:02]
C
Seeing that white stack on horizon, there was such a unique train of thoughts that went along with that. Because knowing it was a ship, well, first of all, like, which way is it? Which direction is it traveling? Is it going away from us? And then to watch that shape grow and grow and grow, we knew that it was getting closer.
- [30:18]
B
They watch intense silence as the ship sails towards them. Soon they can make out markings on the hull. It's a cruise ship, an enormous one. This is good news. A ship that size means people, hundreds, maybe thousands. All it takes is one person at the railing, one child with binoculars. One crew member doing a scan of the deteriorating surroundings.
- [30:46]
C
There's always people looking off the back of the ship. Somebody's got to see us.
- [30:49]
B
Johnny waits for the perfect moment until the ship is within range. As he crests a wave, he strikes the flare. Eric lights one, too. Crimson smoke once more curls into the gray sky. Someone must be looking their way, able to see the two drowning men in the middle of the gulf. But the ship sails on. Johnny and Eric watch as their salvation once again passes them by. Its vast outline begins to shrink until it's imperceptible through the storm.
- [31:31]
C
That was the beginning of the darkness. That's when it was, you know you're going to die out here. And just the thoughts began to manifest. You're a loser. You're a failure. You're going to either get eaten by a shark or you're going to drown. I knew it was only a matter of time.
- [31:45]
B
Rescue now will surely only happen if the men take matters into their own hands. Flares aren't working. The life jackets are soaked through and starting to tear. Conditions are quickly becoming unmanageable. Worse still, Eric is losing feeling in his lower half. As hypothermia sets in, it's impossible to know how much time he has left. One thing is clear. They have to act.
- [32:15]
C
That was the first time Eric and I had a discussion that wasn't, I want to say totally uplifting, because it was a conversation was, if we don't find the ePurb and life raft, we're going to die out here.
- [32:25]
B
Eric gives an order. Johnny needs to go and search the debris field again for the EPIRB or the life raft for anything that can help them. It may seem like Eric is forcing Johnny to do all the hard work, but there is probably a selflessness in the captain's orders.
- [32:44]
C
I think it was a situation where it was, he was trying to save me because if I found the life raft, I never would have been able to get it back to him against that wind in that current in the seas. But I think it was. I truly think he was sending me out to save myself. I knew that if I found the epirb, they were going to home in on my position. And not his position. Just there was like, even though it was an act that hadn't been performed yet, there was still, like, such an extreme thought of the guilt of, we're team, you know, we're crew, we're brothers, and you don't leave a brother behind.
- [33:16]
B
Whatever Eric's intentions, he is given an Order. An order Johnny as mate is obliged to follow, no matter how difficult. Once more, he points the battered surfboard towards the debris and begins paddling into the swell.
- [33:34]
C
The tone of that search was totally different than the initial search. Inertial search. It was calm. Now we got some seas that have built, probably blowing, you know, getting closer to 20 knots of wind, which is pretty rough, especially when you have a situation where you have the wind and the swell going in different directions makes it like a wash machine. And knowing that that line that was there would soon be going away.
- [33:56]
B
The debris is no longer in a manageable trail. It is scattered in a, in a vast field, carried this way and that in the swell. Finding the EPIRB and the life raft is like searching for a needle in a constantly moving haystack. Johnny battles through the white caps for as long as he can, but it soon becomes clear that finding the life saving equipment is not going to happen. Broken and exhausted, he makes a fateful decision.
- [34:24]
C
So I just kind of gave up and just stopped and just floated. I was a long way out. And that's when there was just the manifestation of, you're going to die, you're going to die, you're going to die, you're a loser. And then I finally had made a decision and that decision was, I wasn't eaten by a shark. We pretty much knew the bull shark's going to rip us to pieces, so I made my plan to drown myself.
- [34:50]
B
Mind made up, Johnny utters a final desperate prayer, begging for forgiveness. He unbuckles his life jacket and shrugs it off, letting it fall into the sea. He looks skyward one last time and then at the ocean, the vast stretch of blue that he has adored his whole life. A wave builds and he follows its progress. It's coming right for him. Rather than try to avoid it, he closes his eyes and lets it hit. He tumbles from the surfboard. For a moment he is caught in the froth of the wave. And then he is gone.
- [35:42]
F
Ford Bluecruise hands free highway driving takes the work out of being behind the wheel, allowing you to relax and reconnect while also staying in control. Enjoy the drive in BlueCruise enabled vehicles like the F150 Explorer and Mustang Mach E available feature on equipped vehicles terms apply. Does not replace safe driving. See Ford.com BlueCruise for more details.
- [36:10]
G
Does it ever feel like you're a marketing professional just speaking into the void? But with LinkedIn ads, you can know you're reaching the right decision. Making a network of 130 million of them. In fact, you can even target buyers by job title, industry, company seniority, skills, and. Did I say job title? See how you can avoid the void and reach the right buyers with LinkedIn ads. Spend $250 on your first campaign and get a free $250 credit for the next one. Get started at LinkedIn.com campaign terms and conditions apply.
- [36:43]
B
The tumbling wave consumes Johnny. The salt water blinds him. It floods his ears and fills his lungs with fire. His body is tossed around as if he's nothing more than a piece of driftwood. He has no sense of up or down, only the relentless spinning of the ocean as it swallows him whole. But despite all this, something strange begins to happen.
- [37:12]
C
It was in that process of rolling under that my body filled with a sense of warmth and strength. It scared me, to tell you the truth. It freaked me out. Like, whoa, what the world's going on here?
- [37:24]
B
Maybe it's adrenaline. Maybe it's something more. Whatever it is, it drives him upwards. Kicking hard, Johnny breaks through the surface, gasping in lungfuls of the open air. He retrieves his life jacket, rides a wave, and then hauls himself back onto the surfboard. As he wipes the salt water from his eyes, he hears something.
- [37:51]
C
I heard a voice over my shoulder, John, you spend a lot of time out here. Pick your line and paddle. Was a raging ocean, a raging sea, with just that sound of the waves and the wind consume everything. But it was soft and it penetrated through it, and I was able to find a line and see it and paddle.
- [38:17]
B
He does as the voice says, trying to find a path through the chaos. But it's not easy. Wind shrieks across the water and the waves rear up like beasts.
- [38:31]
C
Fighting those seas, getting knocked off the surfboard, trying to climb back on it and continuing to go, just knock down, get back up, knock down, get back up. And sometimes, like, they would come out of nowhere. And I remember just like, doing my best to get a gasp of air before getting rolled.
- [38:48]
B
Again and again. He is struck down. Again and again he rises. Finally, he sees a shape in the distance. Eric. He paddles hard, and as he draws closer, he notices something floating near his captain.
- [39:07]
C
As I made it back to him, I saw something kind of whitish floating. So I kind of diverted to that. And actually it was the master stateroom mattress. It was like, you know, one of those mindsets of man. Tonight we can get up on top of that thing and it'll keep our stuff from hanging down when it's feeding time for the sharks.
- [39:23]
B
Eric has a surprise in store for Johnny, too. While he was away, something else resurfaced. Johnny's rucksack. Inside are some wetsuits. Another miracle. Johnny hands Eric the thickest one. Given the creeping hypothermia, this added warmth could mean the difference between life and death. If Eric can retain what's left of his core temperature, then maybe he still has a shot. Maybe they both do.
- [39:54]
C
I didn't really talk to Eric about what had happened out there, but there was optimism. We knew we were going to make it. We were going to. I didn't know how this was going to happen, but we were going to make it. We were going to live through this. And that just reinforced a sense of resiliency.
- [40:10]
B
They decide to tie themselves together with the leash from the surfboard's bag to create a lifeline. Now, when the waves pull them under, they can right each other. But it's not just the water they have to contend with. As dusk begins to fall, the ocean seems to fill with wildlife. Most are beautiful fish, their colorful bodies flitting this way and that beneath the surface. At first, their eyes appeal for sharks, the telltale movement of a large shadow or a sinister fin poking above the waves. But then they spot another creature, one that poses a different kind of deadly threat. The Portuguese man of war.
- [40:56]
C
If you don't know what that is, that's a jellyfish on steroids. We knew that if we got wrapped up in one of those, that it would take too much out of us with all the stings, and so when we'd see one come in, we would dodge left or right. Just the teamwork out there was just amazing.
- [41:09]
B
With as much calm and composure as they can muster, the men weave around the siphonophore's enormous, sprawling tendrils. The leash is working well keeping them together. It's only when Johnny spots something on a nearby wave that he suggests unhooking himself.
- [41:27]
C
I remember looking over and seeing a flare floating, and I told Captain Eric, I was like, you know, that might be a good flare. I think I need to go get it.
- [41:34]
B
Eric agrees all the other flares have been used up or washed away. This could be their last chance of attracting attention should a boat or plane pass by. Detaching himself, Johnny pushes away from his captain and battles against the waves. Eventually, he reaches it and quickly checks if it's operational. It seems to be.
- [41:56]
C
And I was so excited. I'm like, it's good, Eric. It's good, it's good. And as I was Screaming that it's good. I could tell he started screaming, but I couldn't make out the words because of the wind. So at that moment, that's when I just started digging to him as hard as I could, swimming towards him. I thought he was getting attacked by sharks.
- [42:13]
B
The sight of Eric screaming and thrashing in the water acts like a starting pistol. Johnny's worst fears, it seems, are now being realized. Using every last dreg of energy, he surges forward towards his captain. In a matter of minutes, he's close enough to Eric to hear what he is shouting. These are not cries of pain, but.
- [42:35]
C
Elation as I get closer to him. That's why I can hear him screaming. It's a fishboat. It's a fish boat. It's a fish boat.
- [42:42]
B
A 50 foot vessel cuts through the water ahead of them, its white hull shining like a beacon. Johnny has one chance to get the boat's attention, one chance to get it right. He tears open the last remaining flare, his eyes never leaving the boat. He waits for the rise of a wave and then sets it off. Red smoke pours into the sky. Time stands still.
- [43:12]
C
And then all of a sudden I just heard this wow. And turn around and look to see the bow. So it's kind of funny because initially it was like we're rescued. Then it was like, oh, no, hope he sees us because it's not. He's going to chop us up.
- [43:26]
B
The boat looms perilously close, but it stops short and swings around. A mate runs onto the deck and pushes open the tuna doors at the back, usually used when hauling in prize fish. Johnny approaches and then, after hours of torment, the ocean finally gives him a helping hand.
- [43:51]
C
The mate had opened that door in a white cat pit and it kind of washed me in and I felt so guilty for getting him before my captain.
- [44:01]
B
Johnny scrambles to his feet and shoves past the mate. He kneels by the tuna doors and reaches for Eric, wrestling him on board. The doors close behind them and the two men collapse onto the deck, breathing heavily. They're finally safe. The mate offers a steadying shot of rum, but all they want is water. Dehydrated and shaking, they gulp it down. The mate then offers towels and dry clothes for the men. The cobbled together jumper and trousers don't quite fit the six foot tall Johnny, but this helps break the tension as laughter rings around the cabin at his appearance. When the captain arrives to check on his guests, a look of recognition spreads across his face. Incredibly, he and Eric go way back. After hearing their Story the captain explains his extremely lucky presence in the area. He had just missed the dire weather warnings from earlier that day. The ones instructing boats not to leave the harbor.
- [45:07]
C
They had pulled out just before 9 o'. Clock. Just before that call with that timing, they missed that notice that came in from Cancun that said, don't send any boats.
- [45:19]
B
That was the first miracle. The second was them finding each other in incredibly tempestuous seas and powerful currents. Eric and Johnny thank their rescuers profusely. It's time to get back to dry land. The boat continues to Cancun, where it docks safely. Johnny calls home and offers a tearful report of his harrowing day. He also discusses a problem with his mother. With his passport, wallet and any other documentation lost at the bottom of the sea, getting back into the US isn't going to be straightforward.
- [45:56]
C
My mom was incredible. She was on the phone with our local senators and just like, hey, get my kid back. And so the American Consulate in Cancun actually came to the marinas to bring us letters to get us back into the United States.
- [46:14]
B
The next day, wearing borrowed clothes and carrying bin bags of salvaged gear, Johnny and Eric board a flight home. Despite suffering from the beginnings of hypothermia, both men go on to make a full recovery. But psychologically, coming to terms with what happened takes more time. Rogue waves are so rare and so deadly that there's no one Johnny can turn to who truly understands. Survivors are almost unheard of. There are no meetings he can attend, no shared experiences. Instead, he finds solace in an unlikely place.
- [46:51]
C
One of the documentaries that I watched was a BBC Horizon episode about rogue waves. And I wish I could tell the guy that wrote that or produced it or whoever came up with that concept of that video, thank you, because they've really helped to give me a lot of healing. It was so informative to learn this stuff and to know that I wasn't alone.
- [47:16]
B
On reflection, Johnny says he credits his survival to two things. The first is years of experience at sea, which gave him the mental preparation he needed when disaster struck.
- [47:28]
C
Preparation is huge and what we do with our time is really big. So all these years fishing out of Virginia beach, boats were slower back then. So it was like a three hour run. I had a choice. I could sleep the whole time or I could just think and try to make myself better in some way. And so what I would do is I would kind of review in my head if this happened. What would I do if this. I would run the drills. So the day that it did happen. I was prepared.
- [47:54]
B
And Johnny believes the second key component to his survival was faith, a steadfast belief in a higher power and in the importance of struggle as a means to bettering ourselves.
- [48:07]
C
Things are bigger than us. Learn as you go through the challenges in life. Because we don't know the purpose. If we cut the struggle short, sometimes we're cutting the lesson short.
- [48:29]
B
In the next episode, earthquakes, avalanches and a superstorm combine atop Canada's highest peak, and we meet the intrepid climber who endured it all. Natalia Martinez has mountaineering in her blood. But during a solo trip up Mount Logan, a once in a generation phenomenon will see her face her greatest challenge yet. Over the course of several days, Natalia will encounter a multitude of of natural disasters. Time and time again. She'll have to call on all her grit and experience to keep struggling on as she locks horns with the immense power of Mother Nature. That's next time on Real Survival Stories. Listen right now without ads by joining Noiser plus.
- [49:19]
F
This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Checking off the boxes on your to do list is a great feeling. And when it comes to checking off cover, a State Farm agent can help you choose an option that's right for you. Whether you prefer talking in person on the phone or using the award winning app, it's nice knowing you have help finding coverage that best fits your needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
- [49:44]
E
This podcast is supported by FX's English teacher. Last year's critically acclaimed series returns to follow Evan, Gwen and Markie as they vie for their students divided attention. See why Cosmopolitan called its premiere season a masterclass of comedy, while glamour raved it's the year's funniest and most heartwarming new comedy series. FX's English Teacher returns September 25th on FX. All episodes streaming on Hulu.