What had once been a drilling room, was now an unbearable, suffocating inferno. The smoke, which filled my lung without warning, was making me hyperventilate. My oily, gloved fingers rummaged and scrambled in the debris - I despairingly tried to memorise the belongings that I abandoned on the side and there specific positions before the door blew off it's hinges - however they found nothing. I was praying : I knew my life was on the line. There would be dozens of paralyzed puzzled drillers seized in the metal heart of the rig still fighting for their life. I was sure their single chance to freedom would be to pummel the Blind - shear ram on the control panel (AUX02). the strangling smoke was choking me, the flame immobilizing, the pressure threatening. yet, I scavenged and scattered in the ash.
120 feet away from the drilling room, through a coded security door, 50 feet up a ladder and winking constantly the blind - shear ram sat in the off - position. Forgotten. Beside the drilling pipe, the mechanics continued to slowly suffocate.
THE KEY - CARD! NO... My oil covered fingers clutched the unidentifiable equipment as I grasped onto a chair, losing my balance as the brutal pressure tried to blow mw away. Blistered, my trembling hand twitched and with terror I felt it fall into the ash. I couldn't manage to look, therefore kept my eyes securely closed. The explosions were incensed, eve more determined; there seemed to be no stop to this Netherworld where minutes mutated and evolved into hours. My knees buckled and I once again recommended my commitment to search in the dark. This occasion it happened quicker. I clutched my fist around plastic. I heaved my lacerated body underneath and tried to identify the possession in my provisional, but awful, shelter. Anguish morphed into realisation that, though not a key - card I was seeking, I uncovered my walkey - talky. With a new sense of purpose, I pushed the button to call the boat on the walkey - talky giving me a chance to live. Charging forward I made my way to the door and punched in the code. The sparks, which shot my body, from all angles, burst through the walls. As I reached the ladder, my heart dropped in my chest, I gripped the ladder and climbed. I was up.
Just up the ladder, my eye caught a sight a neon - orange arm sticking out from a twisted piece of metal. The pulse which had lost its rhyme, made my blood drain away from my head. Whoever he was, he was dead. Taking a step to the leaver the red light had it's last blink, as I pulled downwards.
In the distance, I heard the bolt shut. relived and full of euphoria, I collapsed onto my back and stared up at the burning room, letting the ash fall onto my face. Anyone who was still breathing, still out there, now had a chance; it wasn't a lot, but it was all I had to offer.
Deep-water Horizon