Incredible story: Man survives 60 hours trapped at the bottom of the ocean

Harrison Okene was one of 12 men aboard a ship off the coast of Nigeria when disaster struck.On May 26, 2013, the Jascon-4 was hit by a wave and sank completely to the seafloor.Okene was 29 years old at the time and worked as a cook on the ship.However, as water filled the vessel, he had to think quickly for a narrow chance of survival. 

"Before we knew, we were sinking," he told 9News."We had been sailing for many years, knew the water, and had never had any problems before. I was battling to remain alive and wondering how long the air pocket would last me." 

What was the man thinking while being stuck at the bottom of the ocean? 

Harrison Okene was one of 12 men aboard a ship off the coast of Nigeria when disaster struck | Image: YouTube

"I was thinking about my family, my wife, what would happen, how would she live, how can I get out, thinking about my life as well." 

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Before getting stuck, he was able to obtain small amounts of food and cola, which eventually sustained him.Crayfish, he claims, bit at his skin for nearly three days while he was submerged in the water. 

Which strategy did the man apply to cope up?

Man tried to not panic | Image: YouTube

"I tried to kill the fear right in front of me," he told The Guardian."Because the one thing that may kill you quickly is fear. The panic that strikes you kills you before your true death arrives. Because the moment you start panicking, you use too much oxygen."

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"We found one, yeah," the diver remarked, before realizing, "He's alive!" "He is alive!"Alex Gibbs, a life support technician on duty at the time, said: "I was stunned and then a little excited. Nobody believed there was anyone alive."

Contrary to popular opinion, when humans are trapped in small areas, it is not the lack of oxygen that kills them, but rather the buildup of CO2 caused by their own exhaled breath. 

"By the time he was located, this had reached a high level. You can see him panting in the video and his slightly glazed eyes caused by this." 

Why is the man continuing to be a diver? 

Despite the terrible occurrence, in 2015 he opted to retrain as a diver. "I have faced a lot of my fears in my life, and I decided to face this once and for all," he stated.Okene is now an IMCA Class Two Commercial Air Diver. 

Check the video here.

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