Survival Time in Cold Water

Generally, a search usually isn’t commenced until a boat is overdue for more than 24hours. Fortunately for the passengers and crew of the fishing boat “COUGAR”, which sunk 13°C (56°F) water, 35 miles off the coast of Oregon in September 1998, the absence of a normally punctilious individual, Capt Liddell, from a meeting raised the alarm and triggered the search. He, along with five others, was rescued after 18 hours in the water. Sadly four died before rescue. Had the normal search practice been operated, all would have died.