In this unflinching episode of the Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen delve into one of history's most harrowing survival stories. On October 13, 1972, Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 slammed into the Andes Mountains, leaving 33 survivors stranded at 12,000 feet in subzero temperatures. For 72 days, they battled avalanches, frostbite, and starvation. When their meager supplies ran out, they faced an unthinkable decision: consume the dead or die themselves. This episode chronicles the psychological torment, the impossible moral choices, and the superhuman trek of two survivors who walked ten days through the frozen mountains to find rescue. A raw testament to human resilience and the terrifying price of survival.

00:00 Welcome and Housekeeping

Email us! [email protected]

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/

Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/

REFERENCES

Primary Sources:

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When a routine test flight goes catastrophically wrong, Army Air Forces Lieutenant Leon Crane parachutes into the Alaskan wilderness in the dead of winter—alone, with no survival gear, and temperatures at 40 below zero. The city kid from Philadelphia has never spent a night outdoors in his life. What follows is one of the most remarkable survival stories of World War II: 84 days in the Arctic, a 120-mile trek through brutal terrain, and a series of decisions that meant the difference between life and death. This is the story almost nobody knows about—the man who refused to die on a frozen mountain.

00:00 Escape Ads with Patreon

Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreaon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast

Email us! [email protected]

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/

Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/

REFERENCES

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of 'Disaster Strikes' on the Crux podcast, host Julie Henningsen delves into the harrowing story of David Sharp, a dedicated mountaineer whose third attempt to summit Mount Everest ended in tragedy. On May 15, 2006, Sharp was found unresponsive at 27,890 feet, seated next to the landmark known as Green Boots Cave. Despite attempts to help from several climbers, Sharp ultimately did not survive. The episode explores the decisions and conditions that led to this tragic outcome, the ethical dilemmas facing fellow climbers, and the broader implications for high-altitude mountaineering. Henningsen also contrasts Sharp's fate with the miraculous survival of Lincoln Hall, another climber left for dead but who managed to survive under similar conditions. The episode serves as a poignant reminder of the perils of mountaineering.

00:59 The Tragic Encounter on Everest

03:34 David Sharp's Background and Climbing History

06:25 The Final Attempt and Its Challenges

07:13 The Controversial Basic Package

14:33 The Deadly Climb of 2006

16:37 Green Boots and the Final Resting Place

19:12 David Sharp's Final Hours

19:54 Turkish Climbers' Dilemma

21:50 Controversy and Confusion

22:44 Efforts to Save Sharp

24:35 The Aftermath and Public Outcry

27:29 Lincoln Hall's Miraculous Survival

31:53 Comparing Sharp and Hall

34:20 Legacy and Reflection

35:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Crux True Survival Stories Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen recount the extraordinary tale of Kevin DePaolo, a 26-year-old adventurer from New York who finds himself pinned under a massive boulder in the Eastern California desert. Struggling with excruciating pain and the imminent threat of bleeding out, DePaolo's survival hinges on the quick thinking of his friend Josh Nelson, a network of rescue teams, and a daring nighttime helicopter extraction. Through a detailed narrative, listeners will experience the intense moments of fear, desperation, and incredible teamwork that ultimately saved Kevin's life. This episode not only highlights the importance of emergency preparedness but also underscores the power of friendship and human resilience in the face of life-threatening challenges.

00:42 Meet the Hosts

01:09 Setting the Scene

01:41 The Accident Strikes

03:22 Immediate Aftermath and First Aid

05:42 Rescue Efforts Begin

12:22 Search and Rescue Team Mobilizes

16:44 Nighttime Rescue Operation

26:02 Medical Treatment and Recovery

27:14 Reflection and Gratitude

30:25 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreaon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast

Email us! [email protected]

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/

Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/

Sources

1. SF Gate - "'I'm going to die': Hiker recounts harrowing rescue in California mountains"

2. SF Chronicle - "A daring rescue to save an injured hiker in the California wilderness"

3. Reader's Digest - "Between a Rock and a Hard Place"

4. KMPH/KSEE (Fresno) - "Hiker crushed by boulder recovering at Fresno hospital"

5. ABC30 (Fresno) - "A daring rescue to save an injured hiker in the California wilderness"

6. New York Times/Spokesman-Review - "Hiker pinned under boulder for 10 hours: 'I'm going to die up here'"

7. Active NorCal - "'I'm Going to Die Up Here': Hiker Recounts Harrowing 10-Hours Trapped"

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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:

Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreaon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast

Email us! [email protected]

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/

Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreaon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast

Email us! [email protected]

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/

Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 

Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreaon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast

Email us! [email protected]

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/

Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/

SOURCES

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the summer of 1960, seven-year-old Roger Woodward was just a kid looking forward to a boat ride on the Niagara River to celebrate his sister's birthday—he had no idea he was about to experience something that should have been impossible. When a simple mechanical failure turned their peaceful afternoon into a nightmare, Roger found himself being swept toward the edge of Niagara Falls, powerless against 750,000 gallons of water rushing past him every second. What followed was a series of moments so improbable, so perfectly timed, that witnesses called it a miracle—from his sister's desperate fight for survival just feet from the brink, to Roger's own journey over a 188-foot waterfall. This is the story of the boy who fell into Niagara Falls and lived, and the ordinary people who became heroes in the most extraordinary circumstances.

00:00 Introduction to The Crux True Survival Story Podcast

Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreaon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast

Email us! [email protected]

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/

Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/

REFERENCES & SOURCES

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Disaster Strikes on the Crux Podcast, hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh explore the tragic story of Audrey Mestre, a world record freediver whose attempt ended in her untimely death on October 12, 2002. Audrey, a talented marine biologist and wife of famed freediver Francisco 'Pipin' Ferreras, attempted a No Limits dive to 171 meters off the coast of the Dominican Republic but never resurfaced alive. The episode delves into the mysteries surrounding her death, the possible negligence involved, and the ongoing controversy that has gripped the freediving community for over two decades. Featuring insights into the unique physiological demands of freediving, the mechanics of No Limits dives, and the subsequent safety improvements inspired by this tragedy, the discussion also touches on the fictionalized representation of her death in the 2022 Netflix film 'No Limit' and Pipin's subsequent defamation lawsuit. Audrey Mestre's story is a poignant reminder of the thin line between triumph and tragedy in extreme sports

Primary References

Books:

Magazine Articles:

Documentaries:

Official Reports:

Legal Documents:

Additional Sources:

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of The Crux True Survival Stories, host Kaycee McIntosh interviews Dr. Mitchell Seruya, a board-certified plastic surgeon and peripheral nerve specialist at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Seruya discusses his pioneering work in nerve surgery, including groundbreaking procedures that offer new hope to patients with paralysis and chronic pain. He shares his journey into medicine, the intricacies of his surgical techniques, and the remarkable recoveries of his patients, including a first-of-its-kind surgery for a previous guest. The conversation delves into the future of nerve surgery and the potential for advanced prosthetics and stem cell therapies. Dr. Seruya also emphasizes the importance of gratitude, mindset, and the spiritual aspect of healing in his practice.

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Mitchell Seruya

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/provider/mitchel-seruya-2624729.html

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.