Man survives 60 hours at bottom of Atlantic, rescued after finding air pocket in tugboat

LAGOS, Nigeria – Entombed at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in an upended tugboat and dressed only in boxer shorts, Harrison Odjegba Okene begged God for a miracle.

A video of the Nigerian cook’s rescue after 60 hours trapped in an air pocket was posted on the Internet this week more than six months after his rescue and has since gone viral.

As the temperature dropped to freezing, Okene recited the last psalm his wife had sent by text message, sometimes called the Prayer for Deliverance: “Oh God, by your name, save me. … The Lord sustains my life.”

To this day, Okene believes his rescue in May is a sign of divine deliverance. The other 11 seaman aboard the Jascon 4 died.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.