Falling off a boat is frightening, especially at night, and especially in freezing cold water. It is even worse if you happen to be miles from land. This is the exact situation that Scott Thompson, a Southern California boater, found himself in one pitch black night in February 2022. To add to all of his distress was the fact that he was only dressed in shorts and a T-shirt.
Scott instantly realized that he was in a desperate situation. At first, he tried to swim as hard as he could to catch up with his boat. But he quickly realized the futility of that plan as his boat quickly motored away from him.
It was at this point that real despair set in. He thought of his wife and wondered what she would do without him to support her. He thought of his son and two daughters who would grow up without him. And he also thought, “Great, this is how I’m going to die. Today is the day I’m going to die.”
Even though Scott was an expert diver and experienced swimmer, he realized he needed help and inspiration. Both would come in the most unexpected of ways!
Hope
Suddenly, Scott heard a splash in the water and felt something nudge his leg. “It was a medium-sized harbor seal,” Thompson said. “The seal would go underwater and he came up and nudged me. Like a dog comes up and nudges your leg.”
Scott took this as a divine sign that he could and would survive against all odds. He decided to swim to the nearest oil platform, which was far away, but closer than land. Encouraging and motivating himself, he swam through the long night hours. Five hours later, he arrived at the oil platform, freezing and exhausted.
The tow boat crew that recovered Thompson’s boat was amazed that he survived. “Even putting on a wet suit, being prepared, getting in that water, and swimming to the platform was horrendous,” Channel Watch Marine Paul Amaral said. “I can’t imagine being in the water with shorts and a T-shirt at night. There was no moon. I mean it was pitch black.”
Thankfully, Scott Thompson’s life was saved because he was able to swim to the brightly lit oil platform, which shone as a beacon of rescue in the black night.
Every one of us is born into this world which is black with sin, sorrow and death. We all need rescuing and there is only one Person who is able to rescue us.
“Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:2222Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22)). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name [Jesus] under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)). Are you trusting in Jesus for your soul’s salvation? Don’t wait until your life is hanging in the balance. Come to Him today!