35 Miles from Shore by Emilio Corsetti III

Author:Emilio Corsetti III
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Odyssey Publishing
Published: 2008-09-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

WHILE EVERYONE IN THE WATER WAS CERTAIN THAT help was on the way, the ominous-looking sky led some to ponder the possibility that the deteriorating weather might hamper any rescue attempts. Thick, dark clouds with ragged tendrils of virga drifted menacingly overhead. When the Pan Am 727 appeared from seemingly out of nowhere, it buoyed everyone’s spirits. Several passengers waved at the jet as it thundered by. The second plane to appear overhead was also greeted enthusiastically, even though its attempt to land was thwarted by rough seas.

Now a third aircraft appeared beneath the ragged ceiling. The boxy aircraft was flying so low and slow that it looked like it was standing still. The plane made a tight circle to the left and then dropped a life raft about thirty yards upwind from the main group. Balsey knew the value of a raft in this situation. It would be dark soon. If they weren’t rescued before sunset, hypothermia would become a factor, despite the warm water temperature. Hypothermia is defined as a core body temperature of ninety-five degrees or less. A person immersed in water will cool twenty-five to thirty times faster than in air.* One of the first signs of hypothermia is shivering, a condition that several passengers were already exhibiting. While the water temperature was sufficiently warm enough that those in the water could expect to survive for up to forty hours or more, many would lose consciousness long before that. Getting people out of the water and into a life raft would increase the chances of survival considerably. Balsey made the decision to go after the raft, despite the risk of becoming separated from the main group. Before heading for the raft, he told Harry Evans, who was still on the slide, that he was leaving him in command in his absence. Whether it was Balsey’s show of confidence, or whether it was the fact that Harry was no longer facing the fear of being in the water without a life vest, Harry rose to the occasion and became a visible authority figure to those around the escape slide. He repeated Hugh’s suggestion for the men to use their belts and ties as extra hand-holds. He calmed the people and assured them that rescuers were on the way. Satisfied that Harry had things under control, Balsey started to swim toward the raft. He was joined by Hugh Hart.

Balsey and Hugh were about fifteen yards away from the raft when the civilian aircraft made another pass and dropped a second life raft. This raft inflated on the way down and was blown downwind a good fifty yards. Balsey told Hugh to continue after the first raft and that he would go for the second one.

“Balsey, are you crazy?” Hugh said. “You’ll never get that sonofabitch. The way it’s blowin’ it’s going to end up in Africa or someplace.”

“Hugh,” Balsey said, “I’m still in command. Do what I tell you. We need a raft. If I don’t come back, I don’t come back.

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