Nick Schuyler: Lone survivor of boating tragedy speaks about traumatic experience
Over a year has passed since a devastating boating tragedy left three friends lost at seaand only one to survive.
During an interview with Oprah, which originally aired in March, Nick Schuyler talked about the traumatic experience that began as an adventure, but ended in terrible misfortune.
Schuyler, a former athlete, and his three friends – NFL players Corey Smith and Marquis Cooper, along with best friend Will Bleakley -- headed out on a 21-foot boat on a fishing trip in February 2009. Unfortunately, the vessel capsized in the seas off of Clearwater, Florida after the anchor set and could not be budged as a storm rolled in.
For several hours, Schuyler and his friends held onto the boat as he watched them suffer hallucinations, delirium, and hypothermia. After being stranded at sea and clinging to the boat for dear life, one-by-one, Schuyler’s friends were swept away by waves.
Schuyler was eventually rescued – found sitting alone on the boat after 43 hours.
He said he has not come to terms with why he was the lone survivor among his friends. “I still can’t believe it. I remember being with the Coast Guard, in the helicopter, and their main concern was with the other guys. They said ‘Where are the other guys?’ And I had to explain, ‘There [are] no other guys.’”
Schuyler said he thinks about his experience most at night, as he tosses and turns, and thinks to himself “Why me? I don’t know.”
According to reports, the bodies of Schuyler’s friends were never recovered.
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