How A GMT Pepsi Helped Save My Life

[JohnBaker3]

Dear Friends:

This is going to take a while, so grab an extra cup of coffee and get comfortable.

The "incident" took place on Oct 22nd and 23rd 2009. Here is a link to an interview I did with Harry Smith over at CBS; it covers the basic details and verifies that I'm not as crazy as some people say I am!

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/surfer-s...ulf-of-mexico/

Five minutes isn't nearly enough to cover all the details; it surely isn't enough to talk about all the things that went through my mind as I paddled those 10 hours to get to the rig (14 miles offshore).

Anyway, to kill time as I stroked my way to safety, I must have sung the theme song to Gilligans Island 20 times. I even started to imagine that Tina Louise would meet me on the beach (didn't happen).

But the biggest thing I did was to remember the episode of Magnum P.I. (circa 1983) where Thomas got swept out into the Molokai Channel one July 4th. He was knocked off his paddleboard by a stupid speedboat and couldn't catch up to it as it drifted away.

As he is treading water for almost 24 hours, he flashes back to the time he was about 10 years old and his dad taught him to survive in the family pool. As an incentive, he promised him a GMT Pepsi if he could survive a 12 hour ordeal. I think it took him 2 tries, but he finally managed to pull it off and he got the watch! That memory somehow helped him survive being adrift off Oahu! Sometime later, TC and the boys spotted him from the famous multi-colored helicopter and flew him to safety.

Flash forward to 2009. As I am struggling to reach the oil rig, I dream that if I make it to safety, I will get to wear a GMT Pepsi of my own someday. I thought about it again the next morning as the helicopter flew me back to the beach.

It must have worked, because today, I'm sitting here typing up this little episode of my own. And, back in February of this year, I located a 1981 GMT Master (with the obligatory Pepsi bezel) and wired the funds. I wear it proudly on special occasions and boast to everyone on why I have it:

I EARNED it !



PS: Sorry Springer; I didn't know you back then or I would have gotten one from you!

[Dr. Robert]

Wow!

[GermanyMatt]

Pretty amazing. Cool that you've tied the watch to such a big event in your life.

Treasure it!

[Mystro]

Truly impressive.

[mannyv11]

amazing story and very happy that you get to tell us about it =).
Congrats on that pepsi it is one beautiful watch and I hope you enjoy it for many years to come

[rolexnub]

Amazing story!

[HogwldFLTR]

Very cool in deed; I have a GMT arriving today. We'll see what it looks like in the flesh. I am excited, however.

[nickb732]

Wow, what an amazing story! Thanks for sharing.

[Frosty]

I remember that episode. You had a life and death struggle, he had a classic TV Show. You deserved your reward!

[77T]

Enjoy the reward for a well-deserved survival effort! It should always remind you of that success

[Chewbacca]

John, You're a rock star! You're fortunate to have had the training, the mental strength to survive but also a strong wife by your side. Love her name too!

[cornerstore]

Thanks for sharing your story .

[JohnBaker3]

Hey Guys:

Thanks for all the nice comments; seems like all the GMT people are coming out of the woodwork on this one !

I didn't post this pic with the first set; I was afraid it would scare everyone away! This is what you look like after 14 hours in the water....

[Piloto]

Wow... Glad you made it.

A few years ago, a former co-workers boat sank in the gulf and he had to swim to one of the rigs. His fishing buddy did not make it. Hypothermia got him.

Glad there is a happy ending to your story! Nice watch.

[s14roller]

Cool story, thanks for sharing!

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by JohnBaker3

Hey Guys:

Thanks for all the nice comments; seems like all the GMT people are coming out of the woodwork on this one !

I didn't post this pic with the first set; I was afraid it would scare everyone away! This is what you look like after 14 hours in the water....

You look alive and that's a good start. Glad you were in the Gulf of Mexico and not up hear in the Gulf of Maine. The results would have been quite different. We have the same issues here with rips and undertow.

[KBM]

Staying alive! How's that for an achievement! Moving story, John, congrats on maintaining your resolve and on the watch as well!

[toomuchtalk]

Amazing.

[Bdiesel570]

Amazing story, thanks for sharing it.

[rmfnla]

I once bought myself a Rolex after a divorce; I think you got off easy...


Great story!

[StaceeJaxx]

Awesome. Godbless

[jjnd08]

That's truly an incredible story!

[Sunny Arizona]

Great story, that is awesome

[MP5]

Amazing story

[MitchSteel]

Wow, John, crazy story.....

[TSts]

Great reward for yourself!

[subtona]

Wow!
Great post amazing story, thanks for sharing!

[Wahlberg]

Wow, gave me the chills reading about it. How did you know there was an oil rig, was it visible the whole time (even before you knew you couldn't get back) when you were out in the water or were you simply aware there was one nearby?

[heatscore]

Thats one hell of a story. You had an angel on your shoulder that day.

[JohnBaker3]

Originally Posted by Wahlberg

Wow, gave me the chills reading about it. How did you know there was an oil rig, was it visible the whole time (even before you knew you couldn't get back) when you were out in the water or were you simply aware there was one nearby?

I have surfed the Gulf Coast for over 40 years; you can see some of the unmanned rigs from the beach. The manned, working rigs are further out to sea.

I suspected that they were about 8-10 miles out and I could make it to one before midnight. Fourteen miles is a little further than I planned, but it worked out.

The Coast Guard Rescue Center in New Orleans called me the next day. The officer in charge of the search mission said: "I'm just 39 years old and I couldn't have done what you did".

My reply: "You would be surprised what you can do when your a$$ is on the line".

We both got a good laugh out of that one.

Be safe.