Luckily this seaman survive after he fell from his vessel while unlashing a reefer. He fell in a shark-infested area in Port Everglades, Florida and remained in the water for four hours trying his way to swim to the shore. Perseverance and prayer have made him survive.
Loreto Miles Moscoso III (Lorejei Salvacion Moscoso), a 2014
graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation from JBLCF
Bacolod fell from his vessel while unlashing a reefer. He fell in a
shark-infested area in Port Everglades, Florida and remained in the
water for 4hours trying his way to swim to the shore. Perseverance and
Godliness have made him survive.
Read his story below.
On
June 6, 2018, I was on duty at 0400-0800H. Locally, we call my shift as
‘’Kwatro otso’’. My vessel was Vega Sagittarius, a 456-foot
Liberian-flagged container ship and at that time was moored at Port
Everglades, Florida, USA, waiting for discharge operation.
While we wait for the pilot to board, at around 0500H, our Chief Officer ordered me to go down to un-lash the cargo containers so that it will be ready for discharging. I obeyed, went down the ship’s deck and assisted the boatswain in preparing the pilot ladder. After, he instructed me to help my crew companion (DTRN) to un-lash the remaining cargoes in bay 24 and to put back the rubber carpets we took the day before as we de-rusted the platforms. Those platforms will hold the short bar and long bar after unlashing the cargo. As I was arranging the lashing materials, our botswain went to the forward of the ship to open the bow thruster claps and unlash the anchor. He then returned to bay 24 to help us.
He along
with a deck trainee went to the port side of the containers not too far
from where I was, I think around 6-8meters as I still can see the two of
them. There was light but the area is not well illuminated. In bay 24,
the cargo was a reefer. There was noise coming from its fan. At that
time, I went to the starboard side (on the sea side) instead to unlash
the cargo. As I was positioning. I started to unloosen the turning
buckle. I stepped back for me to be able to get the right amount of
force without realizing that I have nothing to step on. As I fell, I
tried to hold on to whatever I can but there was none. I fell with my
right back hitting something hard then splashed in the water. It took me
a few seconds to swim above the surface of the water as my fall was
hard near the ship’s stern.
I immediately swam away from the ship
thinking that I will be sucked by the propeller. I shouted “Man over
board” for so many times but nobody heard me. I knew the fan noise of
the reefer drowned my voice. I was already in panic at that time and I
drank a lot of seawater plus my back hurts. I realized later that I have
a spinal cord fracture. I thought that it was already my end. I was
in pain, was drinking lots of salty water and my vessel was sailing away
from me. It was so painful to realize that nobody might have known I
have fallen. I was in panic and was about to drown. I almost gave up.
Before it happened, I saw light that seemed to be pulling me to the
surface. At that moment, I know God was with me. He seemed to be helping
me to rise up to the surface to breath. I told myself, I have to fight
back and swim back up to the surface, I might have a chance. I rapidly
took off my coverall all and safety shoes because they added weight. The
only bad thing is I didn’t hold on to my radio for it was with my cover
all. I could have called the vessel if I had that radio. My cover all
with the radio floated away from me. I was no longer thinking. What was
left in my body was my sleeveless and shorts. I was alone now, on my
own. I didn’t have a floating device which I could hang on.
What I have
was my strength and my swimming skill. I decided to float and just
relax above the water. Then I looked around, I can see the land and the
buildings far away so I decided to swim. I saw a couple of boats and
yacht passed by. I shouted and waved my hand but nobody saw or heard me.
I drank lots of water by shouting, but i caught nobody’s attention. I
believed in my heart that help will come so I didn’t give up. If I just
continue floating, I will die. So I’d rather try my best and swim
towards land.
What really guided me was prayer. I was praying as I swam.
I don’t know how far I have already swam when I saw a huge shark. It
was twice bigger than me. I was so scared. Yes, I was swimming for an
hour already but I never expected to see a shark. So what I did I
remained calm and continued to swim. While I’m swimming, it circled
around me like it was thinking what the hell is this thing? I knew
however that if it eats me, there is nothing I can do but feed its
belly. After a few minutes, it swam away. However, it returned, circled
me again. Despite the fear, I remained calm and continued praying.
Then
it swam away and then came back, circled me and swam ahead of me. Then
it swam away and never came back. Still I didn’t lose chance. I swam and
swam not knowing the hours ran so fast. I didn’t have a watch in my
arm. Then, I saw a helicopter heading to me. I looked up and knew, I
will survive. It was there to rescue me. I saw a man onboard the
helicopter pointing to something. When I looked at it, it was the US
Coast Guard rescue boat. It was then that I felt relief. I thanked God
endlessly for this second life. When the coast guard reached my hand and
pulled me to safety, I cried so hard. I cannot imagine how I did it.
The coast guard told me that I swam about 4 miles from where I fell
until they picked me up.
I stayed in the ocean for 4 hours without life
vest or any flotation device. “What?” I was speechless. Even the coast
guard was really amazed on what I did to survive in the ocean that long.
After that, they checked my BP and conducted other tests while I was on
the boat. My blood pressure was low and I was dehydrated. They attached
me to a dextrose to replace lost fluids. The coast guard said ‘’You
were a MIRACLE son!’’ with the smile on their faces. I know I am. I
really thank them for saving my life. I know that Father God used them
as an instrument. When we reached the port they directly placed me in
the ambulance and sent me to the hospital. Tests and examinations were
done to me in the emergency room. The nurses and doctors never left me
alone. They did all their best to make sure that I will be fine.
Accident may happen to a seafarer or anybody anytime. We have to make
“SAFETY FIRST” our mantra. Not all the leanings in school will make us
survive circumstances. It should be coupled with the right values and
attitude. All I did was to be alert, had presence of mind. Your body is
in motion so you need your mind to focus in order for you to think.
Persevere, never lose hope. Lastly have that strongest faith in God for
it is His will which will be done. Never ever forget to Pray. Prayer
will always be your biggest weapon against the odds and uncertainties.
Source:John B Lacson Foundation Maritime University
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