How one man survived at the bottom of the ocean for 3 days alone?
Sarah Smith
Published Jan 17, 2026
LAGOS, Nigeria — Entombed at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in an upended tugboat for three days, Harrison Odjegba Okene begged God for a miracle. The Nigerian cook survived by breathing an ever-dwindling supply of oxygen in an air pocket.
How did man survive 3 days underwater?
The diver first used hot water to warm him up, then attached him to an oxygen mask. Once saved from sunken boat, he was put into a decompression chamber for 60 hours before he could safely return to the surface.
Who survived underwater for 3 days?
A chef for an oil company has survived three days trapped at the bottom of the sea after his boat capsized off the coast of Nigeria. Harrison Okene managed to survive in a small air pocket, drinking Coca Cola.
Can you survive 3 days in the ocean?
Without food and drinking water, a person stranded at sea will most likely not be able to survive for more than three days.
Who survived the longest underwater?
Survived 3 days under water in air bubble
Entombed at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in an upended tugboat, all Harrison Odjegba Okene had was an ever-dwindling supply of oxygen in an air pocket. The Nigerian cook survived for three days in his sunken boat.
34 related questions foundWho survived in underwater?
A Nigerian man has survived for two-and-a-half days trapped 30m (98ft) deep in freezing seawater. Harrison Okene, 29, was on board the tug boat Jascon-4 when it capsized in heavy swells. It sank to the seabed, upside down, but Mr Harrison was trapped in an air pocket and able to breathe.
How long would you survive at the bottom of the ocean?
You can't breath at the bottom of the ocean. If you can't breath, your body won't stay alive for more than about 30 minutes. (Although you'd lose consciousness after about 5.) (3) The water pressure is very high.
Did a man survive a sunken ship for 3 days?
In the murky waters off the coast of Nigeria, divers were performing the grim task of recovering the bodies of 12 crew members from the Jascon 4, a sunken tug 100 feet below the surface on the ocean floor, when they got quite the surprise.
How long can you survive at sea without a boat?
A person can survive for around one hour in 5C water, two hours in 10C and six hours in 15C - but if the temperature is in the high 20s then it is possible to survive for around 25 hours, he says.
How did Harrison okene survive?
They suited Okene with a diving helmet and guided him to a diving bell, designed to maintain internal pressure. Okene lost consciousness during the transfer but managed to survive. The bell then brought him safely to the surface, where he spent two days in a decompression chamber.
Did Harrison okene hear sharks?
In addition to his small pocket of air, Okene also discovered a bottle of Coca-Cola and a life vest with two small flashlights attached. But as Okene listened to the sounds of sharks or other fish devouring the bodies of his crewmates, he began to lose hope, he is reported as saying.
Who saved Harrison okene?
Chef Harrison Okene was trapped in the tugboat for three days after it capsized off the Nigerian coast, but survived in an air pocket. Tony Walker was one of the three DCN divers who found Mr Okene during their search of the boat's remains.
Why can't you breathe an air pocket?
In an air pocket, the first problem is carbon dioxide build-up. Every time you exhale within the bubble, you release toxic carbon dioxide into a closed space. When carbon dioxide levels reach 50,000 parts per million, you'll begin to feel sort of drunk.
Can you breathe in an air pocket?
This shrinks the air pocket's volume until the pressure in the air is the same as the pressure in the water surrounding the air. Yes, you can breathe air in an air pocket - it's normal air. However, you will exhaust the oxygen supply quickly if the air pocket is small.
Is Harrison okene still alive?
This was not going to be a rescue operation as four bodies had already been pulled out of the wreck. Miraculously, however, they found Okene alive. In the YouTube video showing his rescue, one of the divers sees and reaches for the hand of what he believes is a body floating in the cold murky water.
Who was the man that survived in the sunken ship?
Remarkable video has been released showing the moment when Harrison Okene - who had been trapped for 60 hours 30m underwater in a capsized boat - was rescued by divers. The ship's cook had taken refuge in an air pocket.
How do you survive a sinking ship?
Here are some life-saving tips that can help you deal with a sinking boat.
- Get Everyone Into a Life Jacket. ...
- Put in a Distress Call. ...
- Find the Leak. ...
- Use Bilge and Crash Pumps. ...
- Head Back to Shore. ...
- Take Necessary Supplies. ...
- Tips for Preventing Leaks.
How do you survive an overturned ship?
How to Survive a Capsized Boat | Step By Step Guide
- Wear a life jacket that fits you or use a life raft.
- Find everyone in your group who were on board.
- Don't waste extra energy, as you'll need it later.
- Try to get back on the boat if possible.
- Otherwise, grab the boat or anything else that floats and hang on.
At what depth will water crush you?
Human beings can withstand 3 to 4 atmospheres of pressure, or 43.5 to 58 psi. Water weighs 64 pounds per cubic foot, or one atmosphere per 33 feet of depth, and presses in from all sides. The ocean's pressure can indeed crush you.
What happens to a dead body in the ocean?
On the open ocean, however, flies and other insects are largely absent. And if the body is floating in water less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) for about three weeks, the tissues turn into a soapy fatty acid known as "grave wax" that halts bacterial growth.
Can humans survive at the bottom of the ocean?
Scientists haven't yet determined a hard limit for how deep we can survive underwater. There have been a few instances of divers surviving ridiculous depths (not without side effects), but most professional free divers don't go past 400 feet deep.
Has anyone survived drowning?
An Italian boy who fell into a canal in Milan is the latest “miracle” drowning survivor. The 14 year old was jumping off a bridge with friends into 6.5-foot water when he failed to come up.
How long can you live submerged in water?
Generally, a person can survive in 41-degree F (5-degree C) water for 10, 15 or 20 minutes before the muscles get weak, you lose coordination and strength, which happens because the blood moves away from the extremities and toward the center, or core, of the body.
What happens to body after drowning?
The bodies of the drowned sometimes surface on their own, but this depends on the qualities of the water. The putrefaction of flesh produces gases, primarily in the chest and gut, that inflate a corpse like a balloon. In warm, shallow water, decomposition works quickly, surfacing a corpse within two or three days.