The Miracle Files

Episode: The Mystery Boat: Battle for Survival | REPLAY

Hosts: Holly Worthington & Emily Jones
Date: October 27, 2025

Brief Overview

This episode of The Miracle Files revisits one of the podcast’s most remarkable and beloved miracle stories: “The Mystery Boat.” Hosts Holly and Emily recount how a seemingly ordinary deep-sea fishing trip turned into an extraordinary search-and-rescue when two fishermen encountered a boat adrift with no one aboard—a real-life story where providence, courage, and quick thinking led to a life-saving miracle at sea. The episode emphasizes faith, divine intervention, and the impact of selfless action—offering hope and inspiration rooted in both meticulous recounting and heartfelt testimony.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: A Day of Fishing Turns Mysterious

• Andrew Sherman and his son Jack head out fishing farther offshore than ever before.
• Encounter a boat heading directly at them, unmanned and drifting dangerously (01:52–04:02).

“I looked out in the distance, and heading dead center towards our boat was another boat. And I was like, what is going on here? We're in the middle of nowhere, and this guy is just running towards us.”
—Andrew Sherman (02:58)

2. The Eerie Discovery

• As the mystery boat passes within ten yards, Andrew and Jack notice no one is behind the wheel, music playing, and fishing lines in the water (04:33–05:09).
• They try in vain to get someone’s attention—use air horn, shout—consider boarding the runaway vessel (05:16–06:16).

“As the boat drove by...there was no one behind the steering wheel. And we're like, what the heck? That is, like, super bizarre.”
—Jack Sherman (04:54)

3. Boarding the Empty Vessel

• Jack, a Naval Academy midshipman, boards the moving boat, musters courage despite fears of what (or whom) he might find (06:16–06:49).
• Finds the boat is, in fact, empty—no secret compartments or hidden crew. Just alarming clues: wallet and life jacket left behind (06:56–07:21).

“Are you prepared for what you may find when you go on this boat?”
—Andrew Sherman (06:16)

4. Radioing for Help—The Coast Guard Responds

• Andrew and Jack communicate with the Coast Guard, share ID info (“Sasha Scheller”), vessel description, and location (08:28–10:15).
• The Coast Guard instructs them to check the boat’s GPS history, essential for retracing the missing person’s last known location.

5. Taking Initiative: The Search Plan

• Upon realizing help might take too long, Andrew and Jack decide to search for Sasha themselves—interpreting GPS “waypoints” and boat movement patterns (12:30–14:15).
• Discover boots floating, sparking both hope and dread—could Sasha be alive after all? (14:25–14:51)

“I would take my boots off because I could swim easier...He fell off and he was still alive.”
—Andrew Sherman (14:51)

6. A Miraculous Sighting and Rescue

• Applying logical deductions and gut instinct, Andrew crisscrosses the ocean. After a dramatic search, he spots a hand raised in the water—a life-affirming moment (15:51–16:20).

“I just saw this hand come out of the water...and I just came on the radio and was like, Coast Guard, I have found him. I have found him.”
—Andrew Sherman (15:51)

• Sasha is safely pulled onto the boat, after nearly three hours in the water—and recounts his relief and overwhelming gratitude (22:42–23:23).

“A crazy good feeling...to be able to relax and not realizing how tense you actually were until I could grab a hold of that boat...my legs cramped up, who knows how long I could have lasted? Could have been another five minutes.”
—Sasha Scheller (23:19)

7. Sasha's Ordeal: First-Hand Survivor Story

• Sasha details the split-second mistake that sent him into the sea (removing his life jacket to get sun, slipping while relieving himself) (17:02–17:43), his attempts to attract help, and the racing thoughts about his children and life (18:10–19:48).
• Survival instincts kick in—swimming toward where he last saw other boats, conserving energy, and improvising with floating seaweed for buoyancy (19:56–20:54).

“That boat was gone in a matter of a minute...you can't see it anymore. It's gone.”
—Sasha Scheller (17:54)

8. The Miracle’s Mechanics: Divine Timing or Chance?

• Analysis of how Sasha’s boat changed course after he fell overboard—a missing fishing rod may have caused the unmanned boat to veer directly toward Andrew and Jack (24:32–26:57).
• Andrew (math major) claims the odds of that convergence were astronomically small; both he and Jack call it a miracle.

“It's like 0.00, like 9 or 10 zeros point like 1%. So that's just like completely unbelievable.”
—Jack Sherman (25:56)

9. Faith, Fate, and Gratitude

• Andrew and Jack are open about their belief in divine intervention, while Sasha sees his rescue as a combination of nature and human courage (27:11–27:45).

“You may be maybe using that higher power and higher plan like we were used and put in the right place at the right time.”
—Andrew Sherman (27:11)

• Emotional impact on all families involved—Sasha’s wife tells the Shermans, “You didn’t just save Sasha, you saved our family.” (28:27)

10. The Lesson: Safety and Preparedness

• Sasha uses his experience to advocate for life jackets and safety gear—no matter how skilled you are, always use the proper equipment.

“It was just one really stupid decision. If I would have had that life jacket on...there was a whistle, that boat would have heard me...I had a VHF radio. All the boats within 5 miles would have heard me...So get it and use it. Don't just have it. So you can say you have it, but actually use it.”
—Sasha Scheller (30:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• The uncanny chance encounter:

  “The most profound thing that came out of this entire thing...His wife during that visit said...you didn’t just save Sasha, you saved our family.”
  —Andrew Sherman (28:27)

• Hosts reflect on the terror and resilience:

  “I get scared in a lake thinking the fish is going to bite my toes...Think about in the ocean you're like, what is beneath me?”
  —Holly Worthington (29:30–29:41)

• Divine intervention or luck?

  “Whether you attribute it to luck or you attribute it to divine intervention, I'm grateful Sasha's alive.”
  —Emily Jones (32:57)

Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:52 | Sherman and son encounter unmanned boat | | 04:54 | Jack realizes there's nobody behind the wheel | | 06:49 | Decision to board and search the empty boat | | 08:28 | Radioing the Coast Guard, Sasha's identity revealed | | 10:35 | Analyzing GPS data, developing the search plan | | 14:25 | Finding Sasha's boots in the water | | 15:51 | Andrew spots a hand in the water—Sasha is found | | 17:43 | Sasha recounts his fall and initial feelings of anger, fear, and survival instinct | | 23:19 | Sasha’s emotions upon being rescued | | 24:32 | The unexplainable course-change of the runaway boat—a miracle or math-defying odds | | 27:11 | Divergent perspectives: divine intervention vs. serendipity | | 28:27 | Emotional impact—Sasha’s wife’s gratitude | | 30:57 | Sasha advocates for use of safety gear and life vests | | 32:57 | Reflections on the importance of the Shermans’ actions |

Conclusion & Takeaways

• True heroism: Andrew and Jack’s selfless persistence transformed a likely tragedy into a miraculous rescue—underscoring the power of faith and initiative.
• Divine timing: The inexplicable sequence of events—especially the unmanned boat seeking out its would-be rescuers—leaves even the pragmatic awestruck.
• Lasting impact: The lives of all involved are forever altered; their stories continue to encourage vigilance and faith among listeners.
• Safety first: Sasha’s advocacy for always using safety gear closes the episode on a practical, potentially life-saving note.

The Miracle Files invites you to reflect on the role of faith, courage, and providence in our world—and reminds us that light can, indeed, shine in the most unexpected places.