In a gripping account of strength and endurance, Jacob Childs, a 30-year-old aficionado of scuba diving, endured being adrift for more than six hours.
The frightening incident unfolded along the southeast Queensland coast, near Bundaberg, in 2016. Childs, a self-proclaimed “fairly experienced diver,” became separated from his diving group during a dive.
His vanishing prompted an extensive air and sea search mission involving helicopters and boats. Reflecting on his rescue to ABC, he expressed, “It’s a daunting amount of time to be alone.” Despite being able to see and hear the helicopters, he remained out of their sight.
As daylight faded and hope waned, Childs, displaying remarkable composure, documented himself floating solo at sea, fearing it might be his last recording ever. “So that’s it. The sun sets, and they won’t find me. That’s the end for old Jakey,” he mournfully lamented in the footage.
Fortunately, the narrative concluded on a positive note. Around 6:00 pm, shortly after sunset, a plane finally spotted him, enabling the Water Police to successfully rescue him.
While adrift, Childs was fortunate to be wearing a wetsuit, which provided some insulation against the cold. “I wasn’t excessively fatigued since I was buoyant,” he mentioned, clarifying that his separation occurred because he missed the chance to catch the boat’s tagline. “There wasn’t a tagline available for me to grasp onto… by the time the skipper tossed it out, I had already drifted beyond reach,” Childs recounted, elaborating on how currents and a delay in anchoring had compounded his predicament.
Sergeant Rob Jorna, leading the search operation, attributed the successful rescue to Childs’ familiarity with the sea and his calm demeanor. “He demonstrated clear thinking, remained composed, and didn’t succumb to panic. He took all the necessary actions and activated his safety equipment, which caught the attention of the air observer,” Jorna remarked.
Despite enduring hours of hardship, including drifting roughly 30 nautical miles northeast of Bundaberg to the Althea Wreck, Childs remained resolute. “I’ll likely be back in the water tomorrow,” he confidently asserted to ABC just a day after his rescue.
True to his word, Childs has indeed persisted in pursuing his passion for diving.
Childs’ ordeal stands as a remarkable testament to survival, emphasizing the significance of safety measures and readiness. Furthermore, it shines a spotlight on the unyielding resilience of the human spirit.
“I believe it’s just one of those situations… if you have to do it, you simply have to,” he remarked philosophically.
