Real Survival Stories Typhoon in the Lagoon
Nov 27, 2025
Tom Booth, a 28-year-old cruise director and skilled diver, shares his harrowing tale of survival during a 2015 typhoon in Chuuk Lagoon. He vividly recounts the chaotic moments as the storm hit, revealing how he led his crew amidst chaos when the captain was incapacitated. With quick thinking, he cut the sea anchor to save the yacht, all while dealing with electric shocks and the panic of crew washed overboard. Finally, Tom reflects on the aftermath, which propelled him into a career in marine salvage and transformed his outlook on safety.
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Yacht Pinned On Reef In Typhoon
- Tom Booth recounts the yacht caught in Typhoon Maysak, the bow hitting reefs and crew swept overboard.
- He describes life jackets, flipped skiff, and the life raft ripped away by wind.
Captain Knocked Out By Flailing Rigging
- A swinging metal stay knocked Captain Deng unconscious, leaving the crew without a captain.
- Tom dragged him to a shower room and wedged him to keep his airway clear amid chaos.
Evacuate Nonessential Crew Early
- Tom reflects that non-essential crew should have been evacuated as weather worsened.
- He advises removing non-critical personnel early to reduce risk in severe storms.