Miraculous Survival at Sea

British skipper Tony Bullimore recalls his ordeal how he capsized in a storm during the Vendee Globe Race and miraculously survived 5 days in the freezing Southern Ocean.

From Discovery's "Raging Planet: Sea Storms"

[lolkevandewitte]

The mental strength of this man is just unbelievable. I mean, 4 days in a turned over sailboat, filled with water, knowing that the chance that you will be found is very slim. This man is carved from a very rare kind of wood.... I salute him, with deep respect.

[jaymehta]

4 days in that pocket of water. And he made it sound like it was no big deal.
Legend. Absolute legend.

[Fadil]

Balls made of Titanium, amazing courage and passion for life a man ...hat's off..God speed

[ronkirk]

I spent a total of 5 months sailing down there singlehanded in a steel pilothouse cutter. Only had one knockdown and it was my bad for not tacking downwind soon enough after a wind shift - windvane steered me beam to the huge seas. The boat sustained a thousand dollars in damage but, didn't loose the mast even though it hit the water pretty hard. Doing the Southern Ocean is the most exciting and challenging sailing on the planet especially late in the season when you have snow and hail. I didn't carry a sat phone or other long range communications system (no epirb or liferaft either - i didn't want anyone risking their life rescuing me if I couldn't manage on my own) so it was just me and the albatross. Interesting experience - wouldn't trade it for the world! Gong fast down there on a Vendee Globe boat must be a whole other ball game!

[ryangillis]

Very happy this man made it out alive. You are such a brave man heading out into that environment. 100% respect to you sir.

[planetdisco]

Still the most isolated ocean rescue ever attempted. Well done RAN and RIP Captain Bullimore…

[HopelessSinner]

R.I.P Tony Bullimore. 🌹
1939-2018
🇬🇧

[todaysrealhealth]

And that's what the military is amazing for, saving people. Not going to war. What a brace rescue. The man saved is so lucky and tough

[loro.h]

I'm not lying when stating that this gave me goosebumps and wet eyes. This is truly a miracle!

[Carlos]

His voice still shakes when he remembers that, he's still traumatized by his ordeal : living 4 days with death swimming besides him... Still he's been courageous enough to replay all this for the film 🎥 🙏

[ronaldsneek]

Saw this on TV when it was on the news, never forgotten it. I miss the moment he walks aboard the navyship, showed his hand with the missing finger. What a man, all this drama and then happy as a kid. Great guy.

[velonico]

Im sailing from Grenada to Europe on a 54 ft Ketch... I dont expect this sort of sevice so Ill try to keep my keel! So glad to see this Skipper keep his head, and allow the Rescue Team to have a Halo Day and succeed at their task!

[bostondale]

Be a boring world if we all stayed home and watched TV.

Passion in life…is life. It’s contagious. Get naked and roll around in it. People who enjoy living have it all figured out.

On another point the rescuers would have learnt more in that one event than 100 exercises.

[chrisfrancis]

I met Tony in my pub Liskeard Cornwall 2006 lovey chap, feel privileged❤️

[lvgeorge]

Just Imagine being in his situation for a moment. Little Hope, extremely uncomfortable, freezing cold, in the dark, exhausted. That is Bravery to the end even if the result is not to survive. These heroic stories of survival and the people that have such mental strength simply amaze me! IMHO!

[davidc]

What do we say to the god of death .... not today .... Amazing story of a legend of a sailor. Awesome!

[BrassLock]

While living in Australia, I remember the HMAS Adelaide saving Tony and another sailor on the same rescue mission. On the ship's return to Western Australia, Tony was welcomed back to land at Perth's port of Fremantle. It was a media frenzy for days, and a lot of people discovered there are parts of Australia that aren't called "Sydney" or "Melbourne".

[bjbrown]

Just watched this and it made me cry! God bless the rescuers for not giving up

[marc]

Stunning, incredible story. What an impressive will to survive. What an encourage to sail 2000km at full speed without any hint of possible success. My highest respect for the australian army - and for Tony of course.

[dandun]

i met tony in a pub in bristol
lovely bloke