Whale Watching Trip Nearly Ends In Disaster For Philadelphia Man
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- For Frank Dougherty, it started out as a chance to go whale watching and check out other wildlife at the bottom of the world.
He wound up with the adventure of his lifetime -- an adventure he thought he wouldn't survive.
One-hundred-miles-per-hour winds and 35 to 45 foot waves bashed the cruise ship, knocking out the ship's radar and communications, forcing the captain to declare an emergency.
It all happened in what's called the "Drake Passage," which is the strip of sea between South America and Antarctica.
"It the most turbulent water in the world," Dougherty said.
Dougherty, of the East Falls section of Philadelphia, was on board the Celia II as a ferocious storm blasted the ship and its 88 American passengers for more than 20 hours. During last week's storm, the passengers were confined below deck.
"With the conditions out there, you wouldn't last 15 minutes. You would die of hypothermia if you went overboard," Dougherty said.
The ship was 540 miles away from port. Another ship, called the National Geographic Explorer, was nearby and was able to provide some help.
The 68-year-old retired Daily News reporter said the massive waves tossed him around his cabin.
"I fell backwards and broke a table," Dougherty recalled. "People thought we were in big trouble. For about an hour, I thought we weren't going to make it," he said.
Fortunately, Dougherty, the crew, and all the other passengers survived. Dougherty credits the captain with navigating the rough seas.
Despite the danger, Dougherty said, the trip was worth it and he would do it again if he had the chance.
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Reported by Todd Quinones, CBS 3
