One of the most common traits among all living creatures is the will to survive.

Which only makes sense if you think about it, because anything else would lead to the extinction of the species.

Sometimes that choice is taken out of the creature's hands or claws as it were in the case of

the dinosaur.

Although most modern paleontologists will tell you the dinosaur never went completely away.

They just grew wings and feathers and learned how to fly.

In the case of human beings, people have proven especially adept at surviving in practically every climate and locale on Earth.

And for every story of a plane crash or a lost Arctic expedition with no survivors.

There are many other similar tales where people manage to survive miraculously beyond

all odds.

This is one such story. On 13th, 1961, the Greek oil freighter Captain Theo was on its way through the

Northwest Providence Channel, which bisects the Bahama Islands on a trip from

Antwer Belgium to Houston, Texas.

Nicholas Spakadakis, the ship's second officer, was on launch.

From his perch high up on the ship's bridge, he could see other ships scattered here and there across the vast ocean.

As his eyes drifted over the white-capped waves, something caught his eye.

He squinted through the sun's glare at a tiny white speck

bobbing in the distance but a mile off the ship's starboard bow. He focused on it

intently trying to make out what it was. He didn't think it was just simple

debris, and the only other thing he could think of that size would be a fishing dinghy, but that didn't make

any sense either. No fishing dinghy was. would be out

out this far from shore.

...