Atlantic Ocean: Help Came Too Late

The Philippine cargo ship Balsa 24 was plowing through the turbulent waters of the North Atlantic last week when it encountered a violent storm. Lashed by pelting rain and battered by 35-to-50-knot winds and 50-ft. waves, the vessel foundered 1,120 miles east of New York. Its 19-member crew frantically radioed an SOS, then clambered into a lifeboat.

Almost 15 hours passed before the first rescue ship -- a Panamanian & freighter, the Friasi -- could reach the scene. It was followed by the Scamp, a nuclear-powered Navy submarine, which managed to pull one sailor to safety. Two more ships, including an Israeli vessel, converged on the area, but were unable to save any of the remaining crew.

The Friasi then spotted a sailor aboard a lifeboat and dropped a 30-ft. rope ladder. Drained of his strength after 22 hours in the howling storm, the crewman struggled slowly up the ladder. Only a few feet from safety, he was struck by a mountainous wave and lost in the water.