Man stuck in the bay is an exhaustive selection, the ship sinks, Texas man survives 30 hours in the Persian Gulf for 30 hours after their boat sank, two best friends treaded water and fought hard for survival. Hours after their boat sank, Ken Henderson and Ed Coen treaded water in the Gulf of Mexico, talking about life and death while fighting for survival. For more than 30 hours, it worked.
Then Henderson was forced to make decisions that would save his life but not his best friend is.
"This is the last effort, but I'm going to go for help or do not do it," Henderson said Coen, just before cutting the strap that is connected to the deep cold waters off the Texas coast.
"I understand," said Coen, which Henderson on the last set of instructions. "Kiss them for me children."
Then Henderson was forced to make decisions that would save his life but not his best friend is.
"This is the last effort, but I'm going to go for help or do not do it," Henderson said Coen, just before cutting the strap that is connected to the deep cold waters off the Texas coast.
"I understand," said Coen, which Henderson on the last set of instructions. "Kiss them for me children."
It was Friday around 4 p.m., when they broke up.
On Tuesday, the day after the fishing trip ended in tragedy, Henderson told the harrowing story for The Associated Press, alternating sadness, guilt and laughter as he recalled the last 30 hours of life Coen and pain to live life without a man who had been his best friend 25 years.
The saga began Thursday around noon directly. They hunt for a few hours, and opened a Diet Coke is. The line in the water, but joked around.
Suddenly he noticed Coen 30-foot Scarab was filled with water. Henderson began four bilge pumps. The water sprayed everywhere.
Coen quickly undid the ship from one of the many oil rigs in the area where they were fishing. Henderson revved the engine, but he died. Mad, got both engines roaring - just have a salt water that leaks in to kill quickly. Bow to the wind, it was clear, no wave can overturn them.
"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday Marine 16," says Henderson Marine over his radio. He got no answer.
He dialed 9-1-1 on his cell phone. There was no signal.
Suddenly, the bow went up. Henderson flew back. Coen jumped to the right, his sunglasses and hat flying off. He was wearing life jackets, two former soldiers seized another life jackets and other floating objects, including half full bottle of Diet Coke.
"The water was so cold that your breath," said Henderson.
Coen, slender man, immediately began to shake.
After failing to float on the gas and its surroundings, few are ready for a long wait. Coen his old life jacket will keep him and Henderson also tied around the neck of his friend. Henderson was concerned, was getting torn down and put a life jacket between his legs. With his pocket knife, Henderson made a train with an extra lifejacket. Red material tied at the top of the mast ship, creating a flag.
And they talked about.
"We talked about things that I never speak. We talked about things and discuss life. We talked family. We just tried to keep ourselves occupied," said Henderson.
As night fell, they took turns setting each other on the breast, which saves body heat. Tied their life jackets together to ensure that the separation of the dark.
They fell asleep. Coen began hallucinating. Henderson Coen tried to keep arms and legs move. Sissy called him to get him angry. But as morning came, Coen situation worsened. It took time to wake up. He tried to light a cigarette that was not in his mouth. I go to the store.
"I came to realize that one of us can do, or that both of us can not do it," said Henderson. "I just felt helpless sitting there with him."
About 3 hours, the pair drifted toward a manned platform. Henderson realized that his friend was not adhered to its head above water. He put another lifejacket Coen behind the head, but his friend pulled him across the face and tried to protect from afternoon sun.
Henderson said Coen dig on the platform. He took him as he swam, but the Coen sideways. Henderson had to dig. Coen thought he was.
Thus, Henderson decided to reduce strap.
He swam two hours, but lost its meaning. He was tired. Frustrated. Depression. He rolled onto his back and swam. It was after 7 p.m., when he woke up.
Saw the next platform in the distance, and prayed for strength.
He swam, seeing the ice crystals in water and trees. He reminded himself constantly there were no trees. He focused on the fluorescent glow of plankton in the water. He made it past the flashing light, a milestone that pushed him toward the plateau.
It was 2 am
On the legs so weak he could barely lift, Henderson pulled up slowly to equip shellfish covered ladder. On board, closed and opened his eyes. Gently touching the floor.
"I'm here. I am on a crane," said Henderson said.
He found a galley with food, water and telephone. He called his wife and told her to call the Coast Guard. He said the rig was on the 633A. He poured himself a glass of water. He got out of his wet clothes, wrapped in a blanket and threw clothes into the washing machine and assured believer Coast Guard had suspended the right number.
"It was more than 50 miles from where we went into the water," said Henderson.
All I could think of, even though Coen. Convinced that his friend would survive, said Coast Guard, where they parted.
Two hours later, Henderson was on the banks of the Coast Guard dispatch room when popular words came over the radio. A fisherman found the body of a lifejacket.
"It's Ed? Is that Ed?" Henderson asked the Coast Guard said it out of the room.
Later, in hospital, Henderson saw his friend. He apologized and asked forgiveness. He promised to fulfill his wish to make him proud and take care of his girls.
"I felt like part of me died there," said Henderson.
