[Milsurplus] Rescue from submarine Pacocha, 1988

[Hubert Miller]

I heard early this A.M. on BBC radio this account of rescue of sailors from Peruvian Navy submarine Pacocha,
1988. After a collision, sub lay on bottom powerless, at 42 meters down. Sailors inside were trapped in two
rooms with air becoming unbreathable and nerves breaking. USA promised rescue diving bell but its delivery
and deployment would be too late. Finally, it was decided sailors would exit 3 at a time; taking a "half breath"
as they exited into ocean and expelling air as they rose. Even with that, three died from 'bends'. I had to wonder
if I could have managed this, to not panic and to smoothly expel air, even as I saw the surface appear above
me, near yet so terribly still far. Morse code figures early in this story as Navy divers and trapped crew exchanged
messages using Morse code banged on submarine hull. The actual sailors involved speak - this is translated, of
course. I found myself electrified, paralyzed to the spot for this whole program of 45 minutes.
-Hue Miller
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09pjkhd


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