A wild and stormy ocean is not a friendly place to be, but for some this is their place of work. In extreme conditions, waves larger than houses can rip oil rigs apart and send them to the bottom of the ocean leaving survivors in desperate need. The response of search and rescue teams in times of danger is marked by courage and fierce determination. And it results in some terrifying stories.
Mark Chatham is a Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) officer with the Canadian Coast Guard at MCTS Halifax. He is also a freelance writer. He lives in Dartmouth.