Part 5/8:
He reflects on how even the strongest swimmers succumb in such conditions, underscoring the lethal effects of hypothermia and the psychological torment that accompanies slow dehydration and exhaustion. The narrative elaborates on the mental toll—angled around the slow, lonely hour-long ordeal—and the contemplation of mortality.
The Final Seconds and Rescue
Just when despair seemed imminent, Rogan spots a tugboat approaching, an unlikely savior. Despite his battered state, he waves and tries to scream, barely able to summon any strength. Hemmed in by tires used as fenders on the boat, he is ultimately pulled onto the vessel, exhausted, shivering, and humiliated.