The CRUX: True Survival Stories

When Tony Bullimore's yacht capsized in the violent Southern Ocean during the 1996-97 Vendée Globe race, rescuers feared the worst. The 57-year-old sailor was trapped inside the upturned hull in pitch darkness, surrounded by near-freezing water, with only a chocolate bar for sustenance. For four days, he clung to survival in conditions that would break most people—extreme cold, complete isolation, and the very real possibility that no one would find him alive. Then, on January 9, 1997, the Australian Navy arrived. What happened next captivated the world and proved that the human will to survive can overcome almost unimaginable odds.

Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction and Patreon Pitch

00:45 Meet the Hosts

01:10 Setting the Scene: A Dark and Cold Ocean

02:11 Tony Bullimore's Background and the Vonday Globe Race

05:20 Disaster Strikes: The Capsize

07:12 Surviving in the Upside Down Yacht

12:56 The Rescue Operation

20:24 Tony's Remarkable Survival and Aftermath

29:39 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

REFERENCES:

"Tony Bullimore" - Wikipedia

"Occasional Paper 98: Life Line - the Rescue of Tony Bullimore" - Naval Historical Society of Australia

"1996-1997 Vendée Globe" - Wikipedia

"Rescues in the Southern Ocean" - Royal Australian Navy

"Round-the-world sailor Tony Bullimore, who survived four days in the Southern Ocean in 1997, has died" - KidsNews

"Gerry Roufs" - Wikipedia

"Story of the Week #39 Gerry Roufs" - Virtual Regatta

"Solo sailor Tony Bullimore dies aged 79" - MySailing

"Sailor Tony Bullimore became famous for surviving four days in capsized yacht" - Multiple UK news sources

"The legend - 1996-1997" - Vendée Globe Archives

"British sailor Tony Bullimore, 79, has died from 'rare form of cancer'" - Starts at 60

"RIP Tony Bullimore" - Classic Sailor

"Teen Sailor's Rescuers Take Costs, No Complaint" - CBS News

"When Wealthy Adventurers Take Huge Risks, Who Should Foot the Bill for Rescue Attempts?" - NBC News

Captain Raydon Gates personal account - Naval Historical Society of Australia

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In this episode of the Crux podcast's Disaster Strikes segment, host Kaycee McIntosh recounts the tragic story of Harris Levinson, a beloved teacher and experienced hiker whose dream hike on the John Muir Trail ended in disaster. On June 23, 2025, Levinson set out solo from Whitney Portal, California, aiming to tackle the more dangerous Mountaineers Route on Mount Whitney after failing to secure a permit for the main trail. Despite his extensive planning and experience, Levinson fell from a ledge just two miles into his journey. This episode highlights the cascade of decisions that led to his death, the inherent risks of wilderness adventures, and the importance of adhering to permit systems and carefully considering route choices. The story serves as a somber reminder that even skilled outdoors enthusiasts can make fatal mistakes in the mountains.

00:00 Introduction to Disaster Strikes
00:40 The Harris Levinson Tragedy

02:06 Harris Levinson's Background

05:13 The Mountaineers Route

08:58 The Fatal Decision

11:59 The Search and Discovery

16:59 Lessons Learned

23:39 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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References:



Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber - "Vashon's heart breaks: Harris Levinson dies in hiking accident" (July 16, 2025)

Inyo County Search & Rescue - Official Facebook post and mission reports (July 2025)

SF Gate - "Well-known high school teacher falls to death on California trail" (July 13, 2025)

Mercury News - "Missing Sierra backpacker fell to his death below Mount Whitney, just 2 miles into his trip" (July 15, 2025)

SF Gate - "After couple's death on Mount Whitney, third hiker dies near mountain" (May 14, 2024)

Daily Bulletin - "Bay Area man is third hiker killed on Mount Whitney within five days" (May 17, 2024)

Inyo County Search & Rescue - Official Website (inyosar.com)

NEMO Equipment - "How to Climb Mount Whitney"

AllTrails - Mount Whitney Trail and Mountaineer's Route descriptions

Recreation.gov - Mt. Whitney Permit Information

SierraDescents.com - "Climbing Mount Whitney via the Mountaineer's Route" by Andy Lewicky

SummitPost.org - "Mountaineer's Route" page

Rock Climbing Realms - "Mastering the Mount Whitney Mountaineers Route (Class 3)" (May 13, 2025)

Backcountry Sights - "Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route" (October 28, 2021)

Outside Magazine - "Mount Whitney Has Turned Into an Overcrowded Catastrophe" by Megan Michelson (August 9, 2018)

SF Chronicle - "The death toll on Mount Whitney is higher than usual. Here's why" (April 28, 2022)

The Travel - "Why Many Hikers Never Return From California's Most Scenic Peak" (September 4, 2024)

Inyo County Search & Rescue - Various mission reports and safety bulletins

Multiple hiking guides and forums - John Muir Trail route information

Note: All web sources were accessed and verified in January 2026. Official search and rescue reports and news articles from July 2024-2025 provided the factual foundation for this episode.

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In this week's episode of Crux True Survival Stories, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen tell the extraordinary story of Poon Lim—a Chinese sailor who survived 133 days alone on a life raft in the Atlantic Ocean, the longest solo life raft survival ever recorded.

When a German U-boat torpedoes the SS Ben Lomond in 1942, Poon Lim becomes the ship's sole survivor. Adrift with minimal supplies, he battles dehydration, starvation, and despair. Using nothing but his wits and will to live, he catches fish with makeshift hooks, snares seabirds, collects rainwater, and even kills a shark with his bare hands.

Discover how Poon Lim endured repeated near-rescues, brutal sun exposure, and complete isolation—and what it truly takes to survive when hope seems impossible.

00:00 Introduction 

00:47 Meet the Hosts

01:11 Setting the Scene: Poon Lim's Ordeal Begins

02:39 The Sinking of SS Ben Lamond

06:18 Surviving the Open Ocean

09:39 Crafting a Survival Strategy

11:32 Near Rescues and Psychological Strain

17:08 Storms and Setbacks

18:48 Desperation and Determination

19:49 The Struggle for Survival

20:25 Desperation and Hard Measures

21:26 Sharks: A New Challenge

22:19 Catching a Shark

26:03 The Mental and Physical Toll

27:02 Near Rescue and Renewed Determination

29:19 Final Rescue and Recovery

34:57 Post-War Life and Legacy

37:39 Podcast Outro and Listener Engagement

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SOURCES

Wikipedia: "Poon Lim"

Wikipedia: "SS Benlomond (1922)"

War History Online: "Mess Steward Poon Lim Survived 133 Days Lost At Sea"

History Defined: "Surviving 133 Days at Sea: The Remarkable Life of Poon Lim"

Outdoor Revival: "Adrift - Poon Lim survived 133 days at sea on a wooden raft"

Factinate: "The Unbelievable Survival Story Of Poon Lim"

Today I Found Out: "The Man on the Raft: The Story of Poon Lim"

RECOIL OFFGRID: "Survival at Sea"

Ships Nostalgia: "Benlomond survivor WWII"

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In the summer of 1960, seven-year-old Roger Woodward was just a kid looking forward to a boat ride on the Niagara River to celebrate his sister's birthday—he had no idea he was about to experience something that should have been impossible. When a simple mechanical failure turned their peaceful afternoon into a nightmare, Roger found himself being swept toward the edge of Niagara Falls, powerless against 750,000 gallons of water rushing past him every second. What followed was a series of moments so improbable, so perfectly timed, that witnesses called it a miracle—from his sister's desperate fight for survival just feet from the brink, to Roger's own journey over a 188-foot waterfall. This is the story of the boy who fell into Niagara Falls and lived, and the ordinary people who became heroes in the most extraordinary circumstances.

Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction to The Crux True Survival Story Podcast

00:31 Listener's Suggestion: Roger Woodward's Story

01:23 Niagara Falls: A Natural Wonder

02:34 The Fateful Boat Ride

05:49 The Upper Niagara River: A Deceptive Calm

06:47 The Point of No Return

12:06 The Rapids: A Fight for Survival

16:52 Deanne's Rescue

21:23 Roger's Ordeal in the Rapids

22:34 The Calm Before the Plunge

22:53 Facing the Abyss

24:34 Over the Edge

25:07 Rescue by the Maid of the Mist

27:41 Miraculous Survival

29:58 The Aftermath and Media Frenzy

36:17 A Life Beyond the Falls

40:02 Reflecting on Survival and Legacy

42:25 Closing Thoughts and Listener Engagement

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REFERENCES & SOURCES

"Bonus Episode: The Boy Who Went Over the Falls," Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe podcast, August 16, 2024

30th anniversary speech at Glengate Alliance Church, 1990

"50 years later, survivor recalls accidental plunge over Niagara Falls," Deseret News, July 17, 2010

"Sean Kirst: Survivor of plunge over Niagara at age 7 recalls terror at the brink," Buffalo News, July 13, 2019

"'Miracle at Niagara' — 50 years later," Lockport Journal, July 2, 2010

"Alabama man recalls fall over Niagara Falls 50 years ago," Rapid City Journal, 2010

"Miracle At Niagara Falls: The Roger Woodward Story," B&B Niagara, July 30, 2017

"Miracle At Niagara -- 7-Year-Old Survived A Plunge Over The Falls," The Seattle Times, November 26, 1998

"Roger Woodward - Niagara Falls Miracle, Incidents, Survivor, Story," InfoNiagara.com

"History of Niagara Falls Daredevils - Roger Woodward," NiagaraFallsInfo.com, February 8, 2017

"The 7-year-old who survived going over Niagara Falls," INniagararegion, March 31, 2023

"7-Year-Old Boy Survives Plunge Over Niagara Falls," Go Niagara Tours, July 31, 2025

"Amazing Story of a Seven-Year-Old who Survived Niagara Falls," The Vintage News, August 11, 2018

"Roger Woodward and Psalm 139," Words of Hope, April 19, 2021

"Niagara," The History Channel documentary, 1999

"Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic," IMAX film

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In this episode of Disaster Strikes on the Crux Podcast, hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh explore the tragic story of Audrey Mestre, a world record freediver whose attempt ended in her untimely death on October 12, 2002. Audrey, a talented marine biologist and wife of famed freediver Francisco 'Pipin' Ferreras, attempted a No Limits dive to 171 meters off the coast of the Dominican Republic but never resurfaced alive. The episode delves into the mysteries surrounding her death, the possible negligence involved, and the ongoing controversy that has gripped the freediving community for over two decades. Featuring insights into the unique physiological demands of freediving, the mechanics of No Limits dives, and the subsequent safety improvements inspired by this tragedy, the discussion also touches on the fictionalized representation of her death in the 2022 Netflix film 'No Limit' and Pipin's subsequent defamation lawsuit. Audrey Mestre's story is a poignant reminder of the thin line between triumph and tragedy in extreme sports

Primary References

Books:

Serra, Carlos. The Last Attempt: The True Story of Freediving Champion Audrey Mestre and the Mystery of Her Death. Xlibris Corp, 2006. ISBN: 9781425738396.

Critical investigation by Pipin's former business partner alleging negligence

Ferreras, Francisco "Pipin" with Linda Robertson. The Dive: A Story of Love and Obsession. HarperCollins, 2004. ISBN: 9780060779528.



Pipin's account of his relationship with Audrey and her death

Magazine Articles:

Smith, Gary. "Rapture of the Deep." Sports Illustrated, June 16, 2003.



Comprehensive feature article on Audrey and Pipin's story

Documentaries:

Ellwood, Alison (Director). No Limits. ESPN Films, Nine for IX series, July 23, 2013.



Documentary examining the circumstances of Audrey's death

Rosenthal, David M. (Director). No Limit (Sous Emprise). Netflix, September 2022.



Fictionalized French film inspired by the story (subject of Pipin's lawsuit)

Official Reports:

International Association of Free Divers (IAFD) / McCoy Report. Investigation into Audrey Mestre's death, October 2002.



Official investigation concluding accidental death

Dominican Republic Autopsy Report. Dr. Danyd Moquete Mendez and Dr. Ana Falete Mercedes, October 13, 2002.



Official cause of death: asphyxia by submersion (accidental)

Legal Documents:

Ferreras v. Netflix et al. Superior Court of LA County, California, filed March 29, 2023; dismissed April 9, 2024.



Defamation lawsuit regarding the Netflix film No Limit

Additional Sources:

Women Divers Hall of Fame. Audrey Mestre posthumous induction, 2002.

DeeperBlue.com - Various articles and community forums on Audrey's death and the freediving community's response

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