Dodging the highway traffic, her runaway car was clocking more than 140km per hour. Written by Peter Michelmore. Read by Zoe Meunier.

A lightning strike at 10,000ft saw a 17-year-old girl free fall into Amazonian rainforest – and live to tell the tale. Written by Juliane Koepcke. Read by Zoe Meunier.

It was thought that the baby girl was severely handicapped. But the love of her foster parents changed all that. Written by Lisbeth Pipping. Read by Zoe Meunier

When a yacht sends out a call for help, it leads to a turn of events that three helicopter rescuers never saw coming. Written by Helen Signy. Read by Zoe Meunier

Scrambling from the downed chopper, the three stunned survivors confronted vents of hissing steam and a boiling lava pit. Sulphurous fumes made them gasp. If there’s a hell, one thought, it’s definitely like this. Written by Per Ola and Emily D’Aulaire. Read by Zoe Meunier

A bond was broken by a thoughtless act years ago. Could all be forgiven with a simple “I’m sorry”? Written by Tom Hallman. Read by Zoe Meunier.

For hours, no-one knew that Arick Baker had fallen into a 58°C grain bin and was slowly being squeezed to death. Written by Nicholas Hung-Brown. Read by Zoe Meunier

It was a split-second decision. The predator had the young woman in its jaw and he might be her only chance of survival. Written by Helen Signy. Read by Zoe Meunier

He was a corrupt youth and spent years as a slave-ship captain, but the man who once was lost, truly found salvation. Written by Alex Haley. Read by Zoe Meunier

Surrounded by a wall of flames, a young New Zealand girl put her last hope in the pledge of a courageous firefighter. Written byJames Hutchison. Read by Zoe Meunier