Oceanos: Rescue off the Wild Coast | Abandon Ship | 2

Against The Odds

Wondery

Cassie De Pecol, History, Society & Culture, Dolby, Mike Corey, Dolby Atmos, Atmos

4.7 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 17 June 2025

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

As a hellish storm batters the Oceanos off the South African coast, senior crew members flee aboard a lifeboat, leaving passengers behind. With no leadership in sight, the entertainers step up, guiding women and children into the last remaining lifeboats as the ship begins to list dangerously in the churning sea. Out on the water, mothers clutch their infants as waves batter the tiny boats, tossing them mercilessly through the darkness.

Order your copy of the new Against the Odds book, How to Survive Against the Odds: Tales & Tips for Animal Attacks and Natural Disasters, for stories of everyday people confronted by life-or-death situations, showing you how they survived—and how you can too.

Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter

Listen to Against The Odds on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting http://wondery.com/links/against-the-odds/ now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Against the Odds early and ad-free right now.
0:05.6	Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
0:09.9	A listener note. Against the Odds uses dramatizations that are based on true events.
0:15.1	Some elements, including dialogue, may be invented, but everything is based on research.
0:28.1	Thank you. may be invented, but everything is based on research. Moss Hills strums his acoustic guitar on stage, but his mind is somewhere else.
0:33.8	He's trying to make sense of what he and dozens of passengers just saw through the lounge windows.
0:40.1	Moments ago, under the dim glow of the emergency lights, a lifeboat began clattering down the side of the ship.
0:46.8	The storm has been hammering the oceanos ever since they left East London, more than five hours ago.
0:53.4	Then, just after 9 p.m., they heard a loud, bang,
0:57.2	and the vessel lost power. Safety lights came on, but no alarm was sounded, and no announcement
1:03.1	came from the bridge. His boss, cruise director Lorraine Betts, went up to speak with the captain.
1:09.5	He told her there was some flooding in the engine room and said it was nothing serious. But Lorraine Betts went up to speak with the captain. He told her there was some flooding in the engine
1:11.4	room and said it was nothing serious. But Lorraine had seen officers climbing into a lifeboat,
1:18.0	and now it looks like they've launched. Moss keeps playing, but his thoughts are racing. Why would
1:25.4	officers abandon ship in a storm over engine trouble? It doesn't make
1:29.6	sense. Something must be seriously wrong. Was that a lifeboat? Is a ship in trouble?
1:36.0	Moss is not the only one with questions. Voices are rising over the music.
1:40.0	What's going on? For the past 45 minutes, he and Tracy, his wife and bandmate, have been doing everything
1:47.4	they can to keep the mood light, playing old favorites, leading sing-alongs, trying to keep
1:52.9	people calm while they gather in the lounge and put on their life jackets.
1:57.0	But as they finish Sweet Caroline, the crowd's questions grow louder.
2:03.9	Their music is no longer enough of a distraction.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 10 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Wondery, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Wondery and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.