Couple lost at sea while scuba diving rescued after 36 hours¡ª'We'd already practically given up hope'
On a serene Wednesday morning, a couple from the USA embarked on what was meant to be a tranquil scuba diving adventure off the Texas coast.?
Little did they know that their journey would soon take an unexpected and harrowing turn.?
Lost at sea for two days, hope seemed dim as their absence stretched on. Yet, against all odds, this story defies the usual ending.?
The couple's tale is not one of tragedy but of miraculous survival and an extraordinary return from the brink of despair.
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What went wrong at sea?
Nathan and Kim Maker from Edmond set out for a routine scuba dive on Wednesday morning, unaware of the chaos about to unfold.?
A sudden storm hit, creating a frenzy among the divers as they scrambled to return to their boat.?
As Nathan's uncle Charles Owen described, "There was a storm moving in, and the divers had all surfaced and were preparing to get back on the boat. As the 16 got in, in the meantime, the swell came in and engulfed all of them," according to Oklahoma news.
Despite their efforts to stay safe by inflating their safety devices, the storm's ferocity proved overwhelming, sweeping Nathan and Kim away.?
How were they rescued?
The Coast Guard's search, which spanned 1,656 square miles and lasted around 36 hours, was on the brink of being called off.?
However, a last-minute sweep by a plane outside the search grid proved to be the turning point.
As Owen recounted, "This plane happened to be in the air last night making its last run outside the grid, and Nathan and Kim had their diving flashlights and were signaling SOS to the plane."
The plane's crew spotted their flashing lights, leading rescue boats to their exact location.
When found, Nathan and Kim were in dire condition¡ªdehydrated, stung by jellyfish, with Kim suffering from an infection and Nathan nearing a diabetic coma.?
They had been swimming periodically to keep their body temperatures up.?
Owen reflected the family's overwhelming relief, saying, "We'd already practically given up hope. This miracle was performed by the Coast Guard at God¡¯s direction," according to Oklahoma news.?
Their rescue seemed nothing short of a divine intervention, pulling them back from the brink of death.
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