Sailor’s Harrowing 16-Hour Survival After Boat Capsizes Off Spain

Laurent Camprubi, a seasoned sailor and adventurer, found himself in a life-threatening situation about 15 miles off the coast of Spain. He was aboard his 39-foot sailboat, the Jeanne, battling the elements and navigating his way to Cherbourg, France. His goal was to qualify for the Route du Rhum, a prestigious 4,077-mile race that takes place every four years.

Camprubi, a 62-year-old stylist for a Portugal-based fashion footwear company, had been sailing since his 20s. He considered the Route du Rhum as “the Everest of sailing.” He had been preparing for the race for months, even incorporating weight training into his routine to strengthen his core muscles for the rough seas.

However, during a much-needed rest, a wave crashed into the Jeanne, causing it to slow down and start listing to one side. Camprubi realized the keel, the weighted fin that keeps the boat upright, was lost. The Jeanne was capsizing.

“Your life depends on it. Move!” he told himself, rushing to get below deck before the boat flipped over. Once below, he found himself thrown to the ceiling as the boat violently flipped upside down. His eyeglasses, computer, and other electronics were destroyed, floating in the seawater that was rushing into the boat.

Camprubi managed to retrieve his survival kit and set off his SOS signal. He then put on his bright red survival suit, a bulky, waterproof neoprene onesie, knowing that it was his best defense against the 68-degree water that was now up to his chest.

At 8:23 p.m., the Spanish coast guard detected Camprubi’s emergency beacon. An extensive rescue operation was launched, involving two rescue ships, three helicopters, and five divers. However, the rough weather and darkness made the rescue operation extremely dangerous.

The rescuers spotted the bottom of a sailboat, missing its keel, in the swirling sea. A diver was lowered onto the hull of the boat to check for signs of life. He banged on the hull, shouting that help had arrived, but his words were carried away by the wind.

Inside the boat, Camprubi heard the banging. He tried to respond, but his arms were entangled in the sleeves of his survival suit. Then, silence. He curled up in a corner, the water rising ever higher, and waited.

“Help will come. Help will come. Help will come,” he silently recited. But a darker thought intruded: “Maybe I’ve been abandoned.”

The rescuers heard Camprubi shouting back, but they decided to postpone the rescue operation until the next morning, when the seas would be calmer and there would be daylight. The question was, would Camprubi still be alive when they returned?

Back in Marseilles, Camprubi’s partner, Virginie Philip, received a call from France’s Ministry of Defense. She was told that Camprubi’s emergency beacon had been set off. Her world fell apart.

“Is Laurent OK?” she asked when she called back. But all she could do was wait.

Philip called Richard Sautieux, Camprubi’s friend and sailing team manager, for more information. All he could tell her was that the boat had capsized, and the Spanish coast guard was involved. She spent the night in anxiety, trying to stay calm for their 12-year-old daughter, Jeanne.

Just past 8 a.m., she received another call from the Ministry of Defense. They told her that the chance of finding Camprubi alive was practically zero.

“He will fight to the end,” Camprubi’s brother assured Philip. “Trust me, if anyone is going to survive something like this, it’s him.”

Inside the capsized Jeanne, Camprubi was fighting for his life. The water level was rising, and the air bubble that was keeping him alive was shrinking. He was disoriented, tired, and hungry. But he knew he had to stay awake and keep as much of himself out of the water as possible to avoid hypothermia.

He thought about his life and the things he would miss: conversations with his three adult children from his first marriage, his son Paul’s first steps, and Jeanne’s middle school graduation.

Just before 9 a.m., after 13 hours since the boat flipped, two divers secured the Jeanne with three giant yellow buoys. They knocked on the hull, not expecting a response. But to their surprise and relief, they heard shouting. Laurent Camprubi was alive.

However, the rescue was far from over. The divers had to clear a path through the debris floating underneath the hull to access the cabin door. It was slow, dangerous work.

Camprubi knew that surviving this ordeal was still up to him. As soon as a diver opened the door, he would have to swim out fast to avoid the rush of seawater waiting on the other side. He had one chance.

The rescue began just after noon. As soon as the door opened, Camprubi swam out with all his strength. He broke through to the surface, gasping for air. A diver was waiting to attach a harness so the helicopter could hoist him aboard.

“I was so afraid you wouldn’t survive the night,” the diver admitted.

Camprubi answered: “I was so afraid you wouldn’t come back for me.”

Camprubi was hoisted aboard the helicopter at 12:35 p.m., more than 16 hours since the Jeanne had capsized. He was taken to a hospital in A Coruña, a nearby Spanish coastal city, where he was treated for exposure and hypothermia. He had lost 15 pounds during those 16 hours, all of it muscle.

But at that moment, all he wanted was to talk to Philip. When he finally got to speak to her on the phone, they both cried, unable to speak. Against all odds, Laurent Camprubi had survived.

Our Thoughts

Laurent Camprubi’s harrowing ordeal is a testament to the grit and resilience inherent in the human spirit. His experience serves as a stark reminder for all adventurers – whether seasoned or novice – about the unpredictability of nature and the importance of preparedness.

Camprubi’s preparedness in having a survival kit and an emergency beacon undoubtedly played a significant role in his survival. These tools gave him a lifeline, a way to signal his location and condition to the outside world, even when submerged in the dark, cold depths of the sea.

The mental fortitude he demonstrated is awe-inspiring. He held onto hope and remained focused on survival, even when he was entangled, cold, and alone, with his boat capsizing. His determination to survive, even in the face of such overwhelming odds, is a lesson for us all.

What’s also remarkable is the bravery and determination shown by the rescuers. Their tireless efforts, despite the perilous weather conditions and the darkness, highlight the lengths to which we go to save a fellow human being.

In the end, this story underlines the importance of survival skills and mental fortitude, and the crucial role they play in overcoming life-threatening situations.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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