In Deep Water - by Michael J Tougias (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The terrifying true story of three friends' fight for survival for 28 hours in shark-infested waters after their fishing boat sinks off the Louisiana coast.

October, 8, 2022.

Three friends are fishing for red snapper when their boat, tied to an oil rig, begins taking on water and sinks 25 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico. Suddenly, the three men find themselves in a struggle for their lives. Their vessel succumbs to the building seas so quickly that the fisherman are unable send out a radio Mayday call, and their cell phones have no reception. They only have time to don their life jackets and hold onto a cooler as they are swept further out to sea.

They vow to stay together no matter what. Suffering from hypothermia and severe stings from giant jelly fish, the men stay together as night closes in. Each man is lost in his own thoughts--thoughts of mistakes made that led to their predicament, thoughts of family, and thoughts of what might lurk in the ocean beneath. When dawn comes, the three men struggle to stay afloat as they realize they are now surrounded by circling sharks as they succumb to fatigue.

In Deep Water is an hour by hour account of a desperate and determined struggle for survival, as well as the Coast Guard's all-out effort to find the missing men. Based on interviews with the three survivors and the crew of the Jayhawk helicopter who rescue them, In Deep Water is a white-knuckle tale of bravery and brotherhood and a battle against the ocean's deadliest predators.

Review Quotes

Praise for Michael J. Tougias:

"I found [In Deep Water] so suspenseful, I couldn't put it down! I can't remember a journey with so many obstacles. You are constantly praying for these men as they endure the worst 28 hours imaginable. Their story is a testament to one's will to survive." --Lili Zanuck, Academy Award-winning Producer

"This book captures the wit, grit and sacrifice of Coasties and their boats." --Minneapolis Star Tribune on The Finest Hours

"A blockbuster account of tragedy at sea." --The Providence Journal on The Finest Hours

"Tougias delivers a well-researched, vividly written tale of brave men overwhelmed by the awesome forces of nature. An absorbing account..." --Publishers Weekly on Ten Hours Until Dawn

"Arguably the best story of peril at sea since Sebastian Junger's The Perfect Storm. [Tougias'] balancing of human and technical detail is nearly perfect. All readers may sincerely hope that Tougias will produce further such superb chronicles." --Booklist (starred review) on Ten Hours Until Dawn

About the Author