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For hours after their boat sank, Ken Henderson and Coen trod(踏) water in the Gulf of Mexico, talking about life and death while struggling to survive. For more than 30 hours, it worked.
Then Henderson was forced to make a decision. “I'm going to go for help or you're not going to make it,” Henderson told Coen, just before cutting the strap(带子) that connected them in the deep, cold waters. “I understand,”Coen responded, giving Henderson a last set of instructions, “Kiss my babies for me.”
Days after the fishing trip ended in tragedy, Henderson told the story for The Associated Press.
They had been fishing for a few hours when suddenly Coen noticed the boat was filling with water. Henderson got both motors roaring, only to have the saltwater that had leaked in break them straight away…Coen jumped to the right, his sunglasses and cap flying off. The two grabbed extra life jackets and other floating items, including a half full bottle of Diet Coke.
“The water was so cold and it took your breath away,” Henderson said. They immediately began to tremble.
The pair prepared for a long wait. And they talked.
“We discussed things and discussed life. We discussed families. We just tried to keep occupied,” Henderson said.
Eventually Coen started hallucinating(有幻觉). Henderson tried to keep Coen's arms and legs moving. But as morning came, Coen's situation worsened. And so Henderson decided to cut the strap.
He swam for two hours, tired, frustrated and depressed. Then he saw an oil rig(钻探平台) in the distance. He swam, seeing ice and crystal trees in the water. He reminded himself constantly there were no trees.
His legs was so weak that he could barely lift them. Henderson slowly pulled himself up the rig's ladder.
It was over 50 miles from where they had gone in the water.
All he could think of was Coen. Convinced his friend would survive, he told the coast guard where they had parted.
Two hours later, a fisherman found a body in a life jacket.
Later, in the hospital, Henderson saw his friend. He apologized and asked for forgiveness. He promised to realize his wishes and look after his girls.
“I felt like a part of me had died out there,” Henderson said.
