When Tony Bullimore's yacht capsized in the violent Southern Ocean during the 1996-97 Vendée Globe race, rescuers feared the worst. The 57-year-old sailor was trapped inside the upturned hull in pitch darkness, surrounded by near-freezing water, with only a chocolate bar for sustenance. For four days, he clung to survival in conditions that would break most people—extreme cold, complete isolation, and the very real possibility that no one would find him alive. Then, on January 9, 1997, the Australian Navy arrived. What happened next captivated the world and proved that the human will to survive can overcome almost unimaginable odds.

00:00 Introduction and Patreon Pitch

00:45 Meet the Hosts

01:10 Setting the Scene: A Dark and Cold Ocean

02:11 Tony Bullimore's Background and the Vonday Globe Race

05:20 Disaster Strikes: The Capsize

07:12 Surviving in the Upside Down Yacht

12:56 The Rescue Operation

20:24 Tony's Remarkable Survival and Aftermath

29:39 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

REFERENCES:

1. "Tony Bullimore" - Wikipedia
2. "Occasional Paper 98: Life Line - the Rescue of Tony Bullimore" - Naval Historical Society of Australia
3. "1996-1997 Vendée Globe" - Wikipedia
4. "Rescues in the Southern Ocean" - Royal Australian Navy
5. "Round-the-world sailor Tony Bullimore, who survived four days in the Southern Ocean in 1997, has died" - KidsNews
6. "Gerry Roufs" - Wikipedia
7. "Story of the Week #39 Gerry Roufs" - Virtual Regatta
8. "Solo sailor Tony Bullimore dies aged 79" - MySailing
9. "Sailor Tony Bullimore became famous for surviving four days in capsized yacht" - Multiple UK news sources
10. "The legend - 1996-1997" - Vendée Globe Archives
11. "British sailor Tony Bullimore, 79, has died from 'rare form of cancer'" - Starts at 60
12. "RIP Tony Bullimore" - Classic Sailor
13. "Teen Sailor's Rescuers Take Costs, No Complaint" - CBS News
14. "When Wealthy Adventurers Take Huge Risks, Who Should Foot the Bill for Rescue Attempts?" - NBC News
15. Captain Raydon Gates personal account - Naval Historical Society of Australia

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In this episode of the Crux podcast's Disaster Strikes segment, host Kaycee McIntosh recounts the tragic story of Harris Levinson, a beloved teacher and experienced hiker whose dream hike on the John Muir Trail ended in disaster. On June 23, 2025, Levinson set out solo from Whitney Portal, California, aiming to tackle the more dangerous Mountaineers Route on Mount Whitney after failing to secure a permit for the main trail. Despite his extensive planning and experience, Levinson fell from a ledge just two miles into his journey. This episode highlights the cascade of decisions that led to his death, the inherent risks of wilderness adventures, and the importance of adhering to permit systems and carefully considering route choices. The story serves as a somber reminder that even skilled outdoors enthusiasts can make fatal mistakes in the mountains.

00:40 The Harris Levinson Tragedy

02:06 Harris Levinson's Background

05:13 The Mountaineers Route

08:58 The Fatal Decision

11:59 The Search and Discovery

16:59 Lessons Learned

23:39 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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1. 1. Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber - "Vashon's heart breaks: Harris Levinson dies in hiking accident" (July 16, 2025)
   2. Inyo County Search & Rescue - Official Facebook post and mission reports (July 2025)
   3. SF Gate - "Well-known high school teacher falls to death on California trail" (July 13, 2025)
   4. Mercury News - "Missing Sierra backpacker fell to his death below Mount Whitney, just 2 miles into his trip" (July 15, 2025)
   1. SF Gate - "After couple's death on Mount Whitney, third hiker dies near mountain" (May 14, 2024)
   2. Daily Bulletin - "Bay Area man is third hiker killed on Mount Whitney within five days" (May 17, 2024)
   1. Inyo County Search & Rescue - Official Website (inyosar.com)
   2. NEMO Equipment - "How to Climb Mount Whitney"
   3. AllTrails - Mount Whitney Trail and Mountaineer's Route descriptions
   4. Recreation.gov - Mt. Whitney Permit Information
   1. SierraDescents.com - "Climbing Mount Whitney via the Mountaineer's Route" by Andy Lewicky
   2. SummitPost.org - "Mountaineer's Route" page
   3. Rock Climbing Realms - "Mastering the Mount Whitney Mountaineers Route (Class 3)" (May 13, 2025)
   4. Backcountry Sights - "Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route" (October 28, 2021)
   1. Outside Magazine - "Mount Whitney Has Turned Into an Overcrowded Catastrophe" by Megan Michelson (August 9, 2018)
   2. SF Chronicle - "The death toll on Mount Whitney is higher than usual. Here's why" (April 28, 2022)
   3. The Travel - "Why Many Hikers Never Return From California's Most Scenic Peak" (September 4, 2024)
   4. Inyo County Search & Rescue - Various mission reports and safety bulletins
   1. Multiple hiking guides and forums - John Muir Trail route information

Note: All web sources were accessed and verified in January 2026. Official search and rescue reports and news articles from July 2024-2025 provided the factual foundation for this episode.

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In this week's episode of Crux True Survival Stories, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen tell the extraordinary story of Poon Lim—a Chinese sailor who survived 133 days alone on a life raft in the Atlantic Ocean, the longest solo life raft survival ever recorded.

When a German U-boat torpedoes the SS Ben Lomond in 1942, Poon Lim becomes the ship's sole survivor. Adrift with minimal supplies, he battles dehydration, starvation, and despair. Using nothing but his wits and will to live, he catches fish with makeshift hooks, snares seabirds, collects rainwater, and even kills a shark with his bare hands.

Discover how Poon Lim endured repeated near-rescues, brutal sun exposure, and complete isolation—and what it truly takes to survive when hope seems impossible.

00:00 Introduction
00:47 Meet the Hosts
01:11 Setting the Scene: Poon Lim's Ordeal Begins
02:39 The Sinking of SS Ben Lamond
06:18 Surviving the Open Ocean
09:39 Crafting a Survival Strategy
11:32 Near Rescues and Psychological Strain
17:08 Storms and Setbacks
18:48 Desperation and Determination
19:49 The Struggle for Survival
20:25 Desperation and Hard Measures
21:26 Sharks: A New Challenge
22:19 Catching a Shark
26:03 The Mental and Physical Toll
27:02 Near Rescue and Renewed Determination
29:19 Final Rescue and Recovery
34:57 Post-War Life and Legacy
37:39 Podcast Outro and Listener Engagement

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SOURCES

1. Wikipedia: "Poon Lim"
2. Wikipedia: "SS Benlomond (1922)"
3. War History Online: "Mess Steward Poon Lim Survived 133 Days Lost At Sea"
4. History Defined: "Surviving 133 Days at Sea: The Remarkable Life of Poon Lim"
5. Outdoor Revival: "Adrift - Poon Lim survived 133 days at sea on a wooden raft"
6. Factinate: "The Unbelievable Survival Story Of Poon Lim"
7. Today I Found Out: "The Man on the Raft: The Story of Poon Lim"
8. RECOIL OFFGRID: "Survival at Sea"
9. Ships Nostalgia: "Benlomond survivor WWII"

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