'O Shit, We're Losing Air'

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A section of the zodiac sponson, the inflatable fender that wraps around the boat, had punctured. One side was completely deflated. Under normal conditions Azodiac with a broken sponson would have to be taken out of service automatically. Instead, mc cormick found the puncture and wedged the nozzle of a small pump inside. Then steering the boat with one hand, operating the throttle with the other. He started working the pump with his foot, essentially doing leg presses to keep the fender partly inflated. The ride was already bumpy in four foot seas now. It's a big deal, he recently explained to me, sounding surprise,. i had to ask

It was meant to mark the start of their lives out of college, but the adventure quickly turned into a nightmare. Beginning with what seemed to be a lucky whale sighting, three friends set out on a sea-kayaking trip through Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, watching out for bears, and having a good time, when tragedy struck.

In recounting the days preceding and following the accident, which seriously injured one of his friends, the Times journalist Jon Mooallem explains how he was forced to reckon with his fears. Detailing the incident’s surprising repercussions, he muses on the importance of overcoming one’s fears, and finding poetry in life’s darkest moments.

This story was written by Jon Mooallem. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.