Author to Discuss Sea Rescue at the Trumbull Library [This Happened Dec. 8, 2013]

You're stranded on the Gulf Stream in a boat with injured and/or dying  men, being tossed about and thrown into the water.

What would you do to survive?

Best-selling author Michael Tougias will discuss that topic, covered in his book, A Storm Too Soon:  A True Story of Disaster, Survival and Incredible Rescue on Sunday at 2 p.m at the Trumbull Library.

"The dramatic and inspiring program is free, open to the public, and suitable for all ages. (A Storm Too Soon will be featured on ABC Television’s 20/20)," according to a press release.

"Tougias will chronicle how 70-foot waves batter a tattered life raft 250 miles out to sea in one of the world’s most dangerous places, the Gulf Stream.  Hanging onto the raft are three men, a Canadian, a Brit, and their captain, JP DeLutz, a dual citizen of America and France.  The waves repeatedly toss the men out of their tiny vessel, and JP, with 9 broken ribs, is hypothermic and on the verge of death."

"The captain, however, is a tough minded character, having survived a sadistic, physically abusive father during his boyhood, and now he’s got to rely on those same inner resources to outlast the storm."

Tougias will use slides of the storm, the survivors and the rescue.  Amazingly the Coast Guard helicopter crew photographed the men in the raft being pounded by towering waves.

“I enjoy doing these programs,” says Tougias, “because I like to transport the audience into the heart of the storm so that they ask themselves ‘what would I have done.’  I don’t like to do author readings because I think they are boring, but with a slide presentation, the viewer can visually relive the adventure.  It’s like watching a movie with the author giving behind the scene details.” 

A book signing will follow the program, and the presentation is suitable for all ages.

Three other vessels with 10 people aboard were caught in the storm, and only 6 survived.  Four Rhode Islanders perished on the sailboat Flying Colours.  This 2007 disaster prompted one of the largest and most intense rescue in Coast Guard history.

Tougias is an "award-winning author of 20 books with Simon & Schuster including several true survival thrillers: Fatal Forecast, Overboard!, Ten Hours Until Dawn, and The Finest Hours (co-authored).  Tougias has received the American Library Association “Editors Choice” Award and the Independent Publishers “Best Nature Book of the Year” award.  

Disney Studio’s is currently filming the movie version of his book The Finest Hours. He is a much sought after lecturer and lives in Massachusetts.  Visit www.michaeltougias.com for more information.