How A GMT Pepsi Helped Save My Life

[BNA/LION]

Thanks for sharing!

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by JohnBaker3

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.

What would have happened if you got to an unmanned rig, is it possible to just enter the thing and call for help or is it locked with a hatch?

[chirojared]

Wow. Amazing story! Glad it had a happy ending

[MortgageGuy]

Oh my God, what a story! You are a blessed man!

[JohnBaker3]

Originally Posted by Wahlberg

What would have happened if you got to an unmanned rig, is it possible to just enter the thing and call for help or is it locked with a hatch?

I would guess that there would be nothing there of use for an emergency situation.

That doesn't make much sense to us, but that's not what they are there for....the companies that own them don't spend any money on extras. They are not designed for overnight stays even by their own crews. They consider it trespassing if you even show up....

It would be nice if they had an emergency "shelter" and a call system for anyone unlucky enough to show up. Even a picture of Tina Louise on door might be nice!

[Chainring]

Great story John. Glad you persisted and survived. I could not imagine paddling on a surfboard for that long. I'm dead tired after an hour! I bet your neck was killing you.

[Racerdj]

Awesome story!

[waQstar]

Wow, amazing story.. You sir are a fighter.

[14060m]

Thanks for Sharing your amazing story

[g-boac]

Amazing story John - thanks for sharing, and thanks for your service in our armed forces!

[JohnBaker3]

Originally Posted by Chainring

Great story John. Glad you persisted and survived. I could not imagine paddling on a surfboard for that long. I'm dead tired after an hour! I bet your neck was killing you.

Actually, my neck, my back, my arms, and even my legs were exhausted. When I reached the rig at 2 AM I could only climb up 3 rungs of the vertical ladder. If I hadn't been able to swing over onto the landing dock, I probably would have collapsed back into the water.

I couldn't sleep that night, but when I got back home around 2 PM that afternoon, I slept for over 12 hours straight. Ever since then I have developed a true fear of cold water too!

[Ru4scuba]

Now that is a good story and a greater post! Thank you for sharing this!

[1675-David]

great stuff, thanks for sharing

[Metalheart]

Touching story! Glad to hear you made it and enjoying good health and spirits!

My experience with watches and trauma runs thus:
I met with a road accident on an icy, cold, snowy and dark Edinburgh afternoon. I was crossing the road when a car hit me at 40MPH. I was thrown to the road after my head hit and smashed the windshield of the car. Long story short, I lost memory for a day and suffered fractures on one of my legs. I was wearing an Omega Planet Ocean at the time of the accident. My eyes filled with tears when they handed me my belongings on the second day at the hospital. I couldn't believe that the only visible damage were 2-3 scratches on the bracelet, a single scratch on the bezel, not visibly deep though, and damage to 3-4 serrations on the bezel. No visible scratches on the crystal. As an afterthought, I however have to say that I was wearing fairly heavy winter clothing which could have protected the watch to an extent. But at that moment of trauma and depression, the sight of my watch gave an unexplainable strength to me. Something which I will remember for a long time!

The watch ran within COSC specs for 3.5 years after the accident. Last month I finally handed it over to the Omega boutique here to have the bezel and crystal replaced + a check of the movement.

[smartson]

Amazing survival story. Thanks.

[Chad072]

I remember hearing about this. Congratulations on the watch.

[polarinda]

Incredible story . Enjoy your pepsi!

[anothernewphone]

This story is incredible. Thank you for posting it, it's crazy to think someone could make it all the way out there onto an oil rig from the beach. Glad you're with us!

[ingoodtime]

Well, that was a some story. I probably would have died out there. I don't have a GMT Pepsi. So as not to have to go through all that, I settled for a GMTIIC.

[Kobayashi]

Amazing story! You earned that Pepsi! Thank you for sharing and glad you're here with us!

[AS1]

you, sir, deserve tremendous respect! amazing story.

[samsam]

Amazing. Thanks for sharing and joining this great community. Wear it with pride.

[sea-dweller]

Great story!

[JohnBaker3]

Originally Posted by anothernewphone

This story is incredible. Thank you for posting it, it's crazy to think someone could make it all the way out there onto an oil rig from the beach. Glad you're with us!

There were only 2 guys on the rig because it was just for production and not for drilling. After I woke them up, they asked me what had happened to my boat. When I told them I was a surfer, they didn't believe me!

They said that nobody could paddle 14 miles out to their rig! That's when I told them I could because I had a 25 MPH tailwind!

[cambarr]

great story!

[Trouble15]

Wow, truly amazing!

[Mauiguy]

That's an impressive and inspiring tale John. I'm so happy for you! Wear that well-earned GMT with pride!

[red1108nyc]

Amazing!!

[hdrazor251]

Amazing story. Have you been surfing since?

[drjfc62]

A most impressive story. You have my utmost respect for the strength it took to survive your ordeal.