Floating in 90-Foot Waves Without a Life Raft: The La Conte Fishing Vessel Tragedy in Alaska | E197

The CRUX: True Survival Stories

Bleav + Kaycee McIntosh + Julie Henningsen

Society & Culture, Halloween, Wilderness, True Crime, Nature, National, Crime, Documentary

4.0 • 606 Ratings

🗓️ 24 November 2025

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When the fishing vessel La Conte sank in the worst storm to hit Alaska in decades, five men were left floating in 90-foot seas without a life raft—and three Coast Guard helicopter crews risked everything to pull off one of the most dangerous rescues in maritime history. This is the story of six hours in freezing water, impossible choices, and the thin line between who lived and who died on January 30th, 1998.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Out there, survival isn't about luck.
0:02.5	It's about being ready.
0:03.6	And for over 100 years, that's what Case Knives has stood for.
0:07.0	Built with legendary craftsmanship in Bradford, Pennsylvania,
0:10.7	these knives have been trusted by soldiers, explorers,
0:14.0	and everyday people who know capability matters.
0:17.4	This holiday season, give the gift of confidence.
0:20.3	Give the gift of Case case knives. Find yours at
0:23.1	case knives.com. Hello, survivalists. This is the Crux True Survival Story podcast. I'm Casey McIntosh.
0:37.4	And I'm Julie Henningson.
0:38.8	And we are medical professionals with a passion for wilderness survival.
0:42.5	Join us as we explore real life survival stories and the critical moments that determine their outcomes.
0:48.4	Buckle up.
0:49.1	Adventure awaits.
0:50.2	Let's dive into this week's story.
0:55.2	There you are. floating in pitch black water.
0:59.7	The ocean swells beneath you are six stories tall, higher than most buildings you've ever been in.
1:06.5	Hurricane force winds scream past at over 100 miles per hour, ripping the top off waves and turning the Gulf of Alaska into a churning nightmare of foam and fury.
1:19.8	You're in a survival suit, but the 38-degree water is already seeping in.
1:25.5	Your fingers are going numb.
1:31.2	Around you, four other men, Bob in the darkness, linked together by a rope. You can barely see them through the spray and the snow. One of them is
1:38.7	unconscious, slumped forward in his suit. The boat you were on, your workplace, your livelihood,
	...

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