Lost At Sea

Right now seven Russian submariners are trapped at the bottom of the sea.

In order to conserve oxygen, they are laying on their bunks and moving as little as possible. Since power is also being conserved, they are lucky if they have any light at all.

I can't imagine the sheer horror that they must be going through. Imagine- hour after hour, unable to move, unable to know when-or if- help is going to arrive. Constantly trying to force yourself to remain calm when every instinct in your body tells you to breathe. If any one of the seven men panics and wastes oxygen, it will likely spell doom for all of them. They must trust in each other- and people they don't know to save them.

I can imagine the hatch must taunt them; in their state, delusion is probably setting in, making them believe that they can make the 500 foot swim to the surface. It would almost certainly lead to tragedy. Yet toward the end, if no help arrives, they may try it only because a probable death is better than a certain one.

This has happened before. Last time, the sailors died because Russia lacked the equipment to save them, and perhaps because it was considered top priority to keep nautical technology a secret from foreign eyes. Fortunately, Russia has learned from its past hubris and asked for international help. Almost immediately, American and British rescue groups loaded equipment into cargo planes and headed toward the fallen mariners.

Here's hoping they reach the sailors in time. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers.