0:00:00 > 0:00:0224 hours a day, seven days a week,
0:00:02 > 0:00:04the emergency services are there
0:00:04 > 0:00:07to pick up the pieces when we get it wrong.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09These are the real-life heroes.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13Tonight we get closer than ever to the action. This is Real Rescues.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Tonight, an international rescue is launched
0:00:34 > 0:00:37after a cruise ship is holed by an iceberg.
0:00:43 > 0:00:48A British holidaymaker records every minute of their fight for survival in the ice floes.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51It was very cold. It was very, very cold.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55It's question time for teacher, Cliff.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58His loss of memory after a fall is worrying the medics.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Who's the prime minister?
0:01:06 > 0:01:10And the fire-fighters of Green Watch turn out to free people trapped in a lift
0:01:10 > 0:01:13while one is having a panic attack.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15- Feeling all right?- 'No!'
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Hopefully, you'll be out in a few minutes.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Tonight's first rescue is not the kind we see every day.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28It's the story of a cruise ship and a very large iceberg.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32The lives of 150 people on board hang in the balance
0:01:32 > 0:01:35as the distress call is picked up 12,000 miles away
0:01:35 > 0:01:37by British coastguards.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42We're using exclusive footage shot by a British holidaymaker on board.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45We join the ship as it approaches Antarctica.
0:01:53 > 0:01:59Georgie and Clive Hale have been saving up for this holiday of a lifetime to Antarctica.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02They're on the adventure cruise ship The Explorer.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04WOMAN: Look at the colour of that!
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Absolutely gorgeous.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11At the moment, the ship is sailing through the ice floes of South Georgia.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15But The Explorer is heading towards the tougher waters of Antarctica.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18The boat's hull is reinforced, and she's ready.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22Nicknamed "the little red ship", she's already won a place in many of their hearts.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26She was a small ship and she was a brave little ship
0:02:26 > 0:02:30because she went to so many places that other ships didn't get to.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33I think that was the appeal. Because she was small,
0:02:33 > 0:02:36you got to know her quickly. It soon felt like home.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43Booming ice as the ship ploughs its way through.
0:02:44 > 0:02:50As a British-registered boat, The Explorer comes under the protection of Falmouth coastguard.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52Although thousands of miles apart,
0:02:52 > 0:02:55this is about to become a very special relationship.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58We extend our direct rescue area
0:02:58 > 0:03:001,200 miles out into the Atlantic
0:03:00 > 0:03:03which gives us a direct area of responsibility
0:03:03 > 0:03:05of over 600,000 square miles.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09But as well as that whenever a British-registered vessel,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12a British-registered yacht or boat gets into difficulty
0:03:12 > 0:03:17everybody is obliged to let the British authorities know and they come to Falmouth.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21For the moment, the seas are calm and the holidaymakers are happy.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26They're spending the day enjoying the sights of Elephant Island off the South Shetlands.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Tonight, they're heading to Antarctica.
0:03:29 > 0:03:35But what started out as a dream cruise is about to turn into a tale of survival.
0:03:35 > 0:03:3898% of the Antarctic is covered by ice.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42The ship has to cut through it. The going is getting very tough.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46Literally ploughing over the top of things and hoping it cracks in the meantime.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49Really exciting.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54Everybody else has gone to bed. There's two or three of us left on deck.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58I'd like to sleep, but hey, you've got the rest of your life to sleep.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02But there won't be much sleep for anyone on board The Explorer tonight.
0:04:02 > 0:04:07A beautiful, beautiful night. A lot of ice around.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09More ice that night than we'd seen before.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12That's what we've come through, believe it or not.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18We're getting very close to some clear water again.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22At this point, Georgie thinks they've made it through the worst.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Husband Clive takes up the story.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27That night I'd been on deck with Georgie.
0:04:27 > 0:04:28I take the still photos
0:04:28 > 0:04:30and Georgie takes the video.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33I'd taken some of the sunset
0:04:33 > 0:04:36which was very beautiful that night.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39I was getting tired then, so I said, "I'm going down to the cabin."
0:04:39 > 0:04:43I went down, got into bed and was reading. I was still awake
0:04:43 > 0:04:45when the alarm went.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47The ship has hit an iceberg.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50It's holed, and water is coming in.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53I became aware of a slight commotion in the bridge.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55The Captain went off, came back,
0:04:55 > 0:04:59looking pretty concerned, saying, "This is serious. This is serious."
0:04:59 > 0:05:03At which point I thought, "This is the time to go to the cabin
0:05:03 > 0:05:07"and start preparing", because it was perfectly obvious at that point
0:05:07 > 0:05:09that something major had happened.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12Within minutes, all passengers are out of bed
0:05:12 > 0:05:15and in life-jackets and thermal survival suits.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19We'd been told that it wasn't a drill, that it was for real.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22But because everything seemed OK,
0:05:22 > 0:05:27looking back we all obediently took our seats in the lecture theatre
0:05:27 > 0:05:28that was the muster station
0:05:28 > 0:05:32and the crew were telling jokes and trying to keep our spirits up.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35But nobody's spirits were really down.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38We were a bit bemused, wondering what was going on.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42While the holidaymakers are treating this as just another big adventure,
0:05:42 > 0:05:45below decks the crew are getting more and more concerned.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48They're losing the battle to pump out the water.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54In a few minutes, we'll hear what happens when the captain's worst fears are realised.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09It's the summer holidays and PC Mark Fruin is on the motorway
0:06:09 > 0:06:11rushing to an accident.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16A report of a caravan jack-knifed in the live carriageway.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19There's only one carriageway open at the moment
0:06:19 > 0:06:21with traffic struggling to get through.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24The accident is causing a huge tailback.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Mark's already thinking how he's going to clear it
0:06:27 > 0:06:29in a worst-case scenario.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33If the carriageway remains blocked, we have to do a rearward relief.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37That means closing the carriageway prior to the junction behind us
0:06:37 > 0:06:41and turning these cars round and getting them off the carriageway.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45Using all his advanced driving skills, Mark squeezes between the traffic.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55He's on the scene.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58The caravan is stranded by the central reservation.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02The car which was pulling it has been moved to the hard shoulder.
0:07:04 > 0:07:09Before he starts investigating, Mark needs to check if there are any serious injuries.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11- Everyone OK?- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:07:11 > 0:07:15INAUDIBLE
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Let these guys do what they do, and then we'll have a chat.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23It's been a terrifying end to a week's caravanning holiday for the Fitzgerald family.
0:07:23 > 0:07:28They tyre blew on the caravan and then it started snaking.
0:07:28 > 0:07:34I was trying to brake, and trying to not brake, not knowing what to do first.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37But it was just going side-to-side.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39It was in slow motion, wasn't it?
0:07:39 > 0:07:43You can see the central reservation coming towards you. Bang!
0:07:43 > 0:07:45It was the kids. I had to get the kids out.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48There was stuff pouring out the car
0:07:48 > 0:07:51and I thought the car was gonna go up in smoke.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54I couldn't get the door open, but we got out the window.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59It's certainly been a lucky escape.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02The caravan had jack-knifed and smashed into the car,
0:08:02 > 0:08:07forcing the family out into the path of other motorway traffic.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10One of the tyres was ripped off the wheel. He lost control of the car
0:08:10 > 0:08:14which took him from lane one into lane three.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18and he came to rest in the barrier in the central reservation in lane three.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21Gary's careful driving after the blow-out
0:08:21 > 0:08:24helped prevent what could have been a much more serious accident.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Luckily, where I didn't just brake,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29the caravan never toppled
0:08:29 > 0:08:32and just the fact that
0:08:32 > 0:08:36I'd put so much distance between me and the cars behind
0:08:36 > 0:08:40cos they realised I was in danger. That saved a mass pile-up.
0:08:40 > 0:08:46With no serious injuries to worry about, the recovery teams have worked quickly
0:08:46 > 0:08:49at clearing the debris from the road.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51We're about to open the carriageway.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55The Highways Agency will get the traffic coming slowly to start.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58You can see all three carriageways are open now.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02It's been a quick turnaround to get the road open again.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06Now Mark has time to take a closer look at the caravan.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10There's a long pole that comes out there and attaches to the car.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14That's snapped off and the car's come round and met the caravan,
0:09:14 > 0:09:16causing that damage there.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19A car pulling that weight, it could have been far worse.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22So they're lucky it's minor injuries.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26No-one got hurt, so...
0:09:27 > 0:09:29Not even Bambi!
0:09:31 > 0:09:34With no-one at fault, this is a job for the insurance company.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37A frightening end to a week's holiday.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41The family are just relieved they've all escaped with no injuries.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49In the icy waters of the Southern Ocean,
0:09:49 > 0:09:54a group of holidaymakers is in danger and UK coastguards are working to rescue them.
0:09:54 > 0:10:00Their ship, The Explorer, is on an expedition to the Antarctic but it's struck an iceberg.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04There's a hole in the hull, and water is pouring into one of the cabins.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08It's the early hours and the passengers are out of bed in life-jackets.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12British holidaymaker Georgie Hale is recording it all on her camera.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16You can see that the boat has a considerable list on it.
0:10:16 > 0:10:23They've put a Mayday out, and are trying to repair the damage to the hull.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27Everybody knew by that stage that water had poured into one of the cabins.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30We knew the person whose cabin it had poured into.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32But that was all we knew.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34The situation is getting very serious.
0:10:34 > 0:10:39The captain arrives, but even he can't be sure what's in store.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15I don't think I ever seriously thought
0:11:15 > 0:11:17this is going to lead to abandoning ship.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22I just sort of assumed that it would turn out all right in the end.
0:11:22 > 0:11:27But that's not what the coastguard are thinking back in the UK.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31The HQ in Falmouth are co-ordinating an international rescue operation.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34We established that the vessel was holed.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37It's taking water and the vessel is starting to list
0:11:37 > 0:11:41so it's on an angle in the sea and is in danger of sinking.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44The captain is considering evacuating the passengers.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48Now, if the captain has made a decision to evacuate passengers and crew
0:11:48 > 0:11:51you know that it is in a very severe state.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53You need help there as quickly as possible.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57So you're looking to find what else is there to try and assist.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01We're trying to contact the British military, to see if they know what's around.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05The Americans are seeing what military assets they have in the area.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08And they're gonna see what other cruise ships
0:12:08 > 0:12:11or merchant vessels might be in the area as well.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Back on ship, things are looking ominous.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16They've got the lifeboats over the side
0:12:16 > 0:12:19so that's not looking too promising.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23It's odd, when you're in a situation like that, you live through it
0:12:23 > 0:12:28and it wasn't really until the "abandon ship" announcement
0:12:28 > 0:12:33came over the loudspeakers that we thought, "This really is for real.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35"We'll have to get in those lifeboats."
0:12:35 > 0:12:40The decision to abandon ship is the toughest call a captain is ever going to make.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43But this time, he has no choice.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46The degree of list is increasing rapidly,
0:12:46 > 0:12:49the captain will be aware of the training of his crew.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52Also, he'll be looking at his passengers.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55You may have people of different ages and abilities
0:12:55 > 0:13:00and he has to think about how quickly he can evacuate them safely.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07Suddenly, Georgie is filming something she never thought she'd see.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10The Explorer is going down.
0:13:10 > 0:13:16All 154 passengers and crew are in 12 lifeboats and life rafts.
0:13:16 > 0:13:21Back in Falmouth, the coastguard are desperately trying to locate any ships in the area
0:13:21 > 0:13:23that can be diverted to help.
0:13:23 > 0:13:29The chances of surviving for very long in sub-zero temperatures in open lifeboats are not good.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Even in thermal survival suits,
0:13:32 > 0:13:36they will have little chance of getting out alive if a storm blows up.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40All Georgie and Clive know is that they're 600 miles from the southern tip of Chile
0:13:40 > 0:13:46with no idea when, or if, they'll be found before the weather changes.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49It was very cold. It was very, very cold
0:13:49 > 0:13:53and although by Southern Ocean standards it wasn't rough,
0:13:53 > 0:13:57it was quite choppy enough for a lot of people,
0:13:57 > 0:14:00me included, to feel very, very sick.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04But the international Mayday calls have been picked up in the nick of time.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07The Norwegian cruise ship Nor Norge has responded.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11She was three hours away, and once she heard the Mayday,
0:14:11 > 0:14:14she changed course immediately and headed to the stricken ship.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18But the rescue is far from over yet for Georgie and Clive
0:14:18 > 0:14:20and the other passengers.
0:14:20 > 0:14:21As we'll see.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35We're with ambulance crew Chris Burton and Karen Hardy
0:14:35 > 0:14:39en route to an early morning call-out. It sounds unusual.
0:14:39 > 0:14:44We're on our way to Old Portsmouth, a patient who's had a fall during the night
0:14:44 > 0:14:51and sustained a cut head and who is now acting strangely according to the person on scene.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55The strange and worrying behaviour includes memory loss.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59We arrived at the address and the man was in bed
0:14:59 > 0:15:02and he said he'd taken a tumble down a couple of steps
0:15:02 > 0:15:06and had had a small bump on the side of the head and a small graze.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10But he was unable to recollect any events from the previous day.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14My fear was that he may have started a small bleed in his head.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18I'll take a bit of blood to see what your blood sugars are, OK?
0:15:18 > 0:15:21- Yes, fine.- Have you eaten today?- No.
0:15:21 > 0:15:26The ambulance crew know that Cliff Pinwell's symptoms could indicate something quite serious.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30But Cliff is just embarrassed about causing a fuss.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34- Don't want to waste your time, that's all! - It's never a waste of time.
0:15:34 > 0:15:364.6. That's all right.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39Chris keeps probing while he gets Cliff some oxygen.
0:15:39 > 0:15:45He's still trying to get a handle on how severely Cliff's head and possibly brain have been affected.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48- You've no recollection of what happened?- Not at all of yesterday.
0:15:48 > 0:15:53- The whole of yesterday.- It's my girlfriend's birthday tomorrow. What day is it today?
0:15:53 > 0:15:56It's Wednesday today.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58It'll all come back to me.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00Don't forget her card, will you?
0:16:06 > 0:16:11At the hospital, Chris, who's a teacher, is struggling to remember basic things.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13Who's the prime minister?
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Not very good on public knowledge!
0:16:24 > 0:16:26Cliff's girlfriend, Sarah, has arrived.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28She can recall exactly what happened.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32Last night, about 12.30, he went to the toilet in the dark
0:16:32 > 0:16:34and tripped over, fell off a step
0:16:34 > 0:16:37and I found him in a heap on the floor. He did cry out.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39And there was a lot of blood.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42You've not lost your sense of humour. That's one thing.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47That's OK, then! I'll make up for it!
0:16:47 > 0:16:51Despite the good humour, staff are worried about Cliff's symptoms.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54Dr Brett Lockyear is going to investigate
0:16:54 > 0:16:57if anything more serious is going on,
0:16:57 > 0:16:59like a bleed in the brain.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03How do you feel in yourself today? Any excruciating headaches?
0:17:03 > 0:17:05It's literally that side.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Cliff is quite irrepressible,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11which is just as well, as Dr Brett has lots of questions.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14- Give my another one. - Count backwards from 20 down to one.
0:17:17 > 0:17:1920...
0:17:19 > 0:17:2119... No, not very well.
0:17:21 > 0:17:2219...
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Uh... Is there a time limit?
0:17:25 > 0:17:27- 18...- Just take your time.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32You're having a bit of a problem with that.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36- Do you know what this is called? - A pen!- What are these called?
0:17:36 > 0:17:38- Yeah, scissors.- Good.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41- What do I do for a living? - I think you're a comedian!
0:17:43 > 0:17:44Almost!
0:17:44 > 0:17:47- You're a doctor.- Fine. OK.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49Brett wants to check his physical responses
0:17:49 > 0:17:52to see if his fall has affected him neurologically.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54No visual... You can see me all right?
0:17:54 > 0:17:58- Not seeing two of me. - I'm getting some cracking tracers.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00Like the six-million-dollar man.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04But not that bad. If I... That's fun, when I do that.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07- You get funny images.- Yeah.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09- OK. I'll be back in two ticks. - Cool. Thank you.
0:18:09 > 0:18:14A tolerant Sarah's been keeping her eye on Cliff's unusual behaviour.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18I'm available for parties, weddings...
0:18:20 > 0:18:23Because he's got this visual problem
0:18:23 > 0:18:26and also because of his speech
0:18:26 > 0:18:29I want to think about getting a CT scan.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32I'm just not quite happy about him, so...
0:18:32 > 0:18:35- Keep very, very still. You go in and out twice.- No problem.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39The CT scan will reveal if there's an injury to Cliff's brain
0:18:39 > 0:18:43and internal bleeding which would account for his memory loss
0:18:43 > 0:18:45and visual problems.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48It's all over. While Cliff and Sarah wait,
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Dr Lockyear has a good look at the scan.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59A normal scan. No inter-cranial haemorrhage or raised pressure,
0:18:59 > 0:19:02no skull pressure showing. It's absolutely normal.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05Amnesia after a head injury is quite common.
0:19:05 > 0:19:10The reason we were worried is he had amnesia with neurological signs.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12We'll keep an eye on him for the rest of today,
0:19:12 > 0:19:14to make sure things return to normal.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16It's encouraging it's a normal scan.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19Time to give Cliff the good news.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23- Now, you've had a bit of an exciting morning.- It's been exhilarating.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27The good news is your brain scan is absolutely fine.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31No sign of any collections, any bleeds into your brain.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33And no sign of any skull fracture.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36- Fantastic. OK.- OK? Excellent.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41Despite his happy-go-lucky exterior, Cliff is relieved at the outcome.
0:19:41 > 0:19:42Yep!
0:19:43 > 0:19:46I want to go home!
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Green Watch have been called to a lift in an office block.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06It's stuck between floors. Six people have been trapped for an hour
0:20:06 > 0:20:09and one is suffering badly with claustrophobia.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13The lift is stuck just above ground level.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17Incident commander Sean Foster tries to make contact with the captives.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21- Hello?- 'Hello?'- Fire service. How are you? Are you all right?
0:20:21 > 0:20:24- 'No...'- It's a trial for one man.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Hopefully you'll be out in a couple of minutes.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31The trapped office workers have told Sean
0:20:31 > 0:20:35that Scott Leonard, the claustrophobic, is clawing at the doors
0:20:35 > 0:20:37desperate to get out.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41Stand towards the back of the car, please.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43Two of the crew are dispatched to isolate the lift.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47Meanwhile, Sean and Luther prepare to open the outer lift door.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49They're well prepared for lift rescues.
0:20:49 > 0:20:54In fact, they carry over-ride keys for all the lifts they know about on their patch.
0:20:54 > 0:20:59All the time, they talk to the people inside, telling them what they're doing.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02We'll isolate the power to the lift and then open the outer door,
0:21:02 > 0:21:05which will give you fresh air.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08Then we'll lower the lift down to the ground floor.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12But it's taking time to get to the power supply.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15The people inside are increasingly worried about Scott.
0:21:15 > 0:21:16Is he conscious?
0:21:18 > 0:21:20We will have you out shortly.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23Sean's doing his best to reassure them
0:21:23 > 0:21:26but there's a problem getting the power turned off.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30The members of staff couldn't find the key to the lift motor room.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Eventually, the right key was found,
0:21:33 > 0:21:35access was made to the lift motor room
0:21:35 > 0:21:38to isolate the supply and carry out the rescue.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42The indicator panel's gone out. We're gonna try and open the door.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44There's no danger to the lift passengers,
0:21:44 > 0:21:47so it's just a case of opening the doors.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49They're in, and their priority is Scott.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53ALL TALK AT ONCE
0:21:54 > 0:21:56They need to give him oxygen immediately.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59Just calm down. Calm down.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01LABOURED BREATHING
0:22:01 > 0:22:04Sit down there.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Try and slow your breathing down a little bit.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08OK?
0:22:08 > 0:22:11There you go. Breathe deeply.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13Keep breathing as deep as you can.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17Richie and Luther are doing their best to reassure Scott
0:22:17 > 0:22:20and calm him after his ordeal.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22Been in there for a while. An hour or so.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25He's starting to come round.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28'It suddenly got, in my mind, incredibly hot,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31'and an instant feeling, "I will never get out of here."'
0:22:31 > 0:22:34I jammed the inside doors of the lift open
0:22:34 > 0:22:36and pressed my face against the outside door
0:22:36 > 0:22:38where some cool air was coming in.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41Try and have a drink. Have some water.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44A common analogy is a lot of people are scared of snakes.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48For me, being stuck in a lift is like someone who's scared of snakes
0:22:48 > 0:22:53sitting in a room full of snakes with no idea how or when they'll get out.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55It's that kind of panic inside me.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58It's been a frightening ordeal for all those trapped inside.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Five of them crammed into the back of a very small lift.
0:23:01 > 0:23:06Managed to stay calm for an hour despite me panicking and shouting!
0:23:06 > 0:23:10It's been quite an ordeal for all those trapped inside.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13Unfortunately, Scott was close to hyperventilating
0:23:13 > 0:23:15and trying to claw his way out.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19We definitely needed the fire brigade's assistance!
0:23:19 > 0:23:21It'll be a while before they get back in a lift.
0:23:21 > 0:23:26As for Scott, he feels as though he's just lived through his worst nightmare.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29'This is my complete and utter worst fear.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33'I shouldn't have got the lift in the first place. I won't do that tomorrow!'
0:23:33 > 0:23:36I'm now gonna have a cup of tea!
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Via the stairs!
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Now back to that extraordinary rescue just off Antarctica.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49We left Georgie and Clive Hale in lifeboats
0:23:49 > 0:23:53after their dream holiday went disastrously wrong.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56Their cruise ship, The Explorer, hit an iceberg and began to sink.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59All crew and passengers abandoned ship.
0:23:59 > 0:24:04Now a massive international rescue operation is underway.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10After four-and-a-half hours in open lifeboats,
0:24:10 > 0:24:14the Norwegian cruise ship Nor Norge has arrived to rescue all the survivors.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18First, they have to get 154 people out of tiny life rafts
0:24:18 > 0:24:20onto a huge cruise liner.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22It was quite a process to get on there
0:24:22 > 0:24:26because we had to get from the lifeboats into the inflatables
0:24:26 > 0:24:29and from the inflatables either into the rescue ship's lifeboats
0:24:29 > 0:24:33which were then raised up from the sea onto deck,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36or most of us had to climb up a little ladder
0:24:36 > 0:24:38into an opening in the side of the ship.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41If anybody told me in advance I'd have to do that,
0:24:41 > 0:24:43I'd have said, "No way I can do that!"
0:24:43 > 0:24:46But it's amazing what you can do when you've got to!
0:24:46 > 0:24:51Once on board the Nor Norge, the relief at being safe is overwhelming.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54We were all reunited with each other, which was great.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56People started to feel concern for each other,
0:24:56 > 0:24:59wondering how friends they'd made had fared
0:24:59 > 0:25:04because we were in different lifeboats so you weren't sure how they were doing.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07By this time, the keel of The Explorer is more and more visible.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11Seeing the ship like that provokes some strong emotions from Georgie.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14Heartbreaking. Absolutely heartbreaking.
0:25:14 > 0:25:19It was... It was like watching an injured animal.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21You get...
0:25:22 > 0:25:24I'm sorry. Emotional.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29You get very fond of a ship.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32You can't imagine how a piece of metal
0:25:32 > 0:25:36can be something you feel so fond of.
0:25:36 > 0:25:41It was to take 20 hours for The Explorer to finally disappear under the water.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48The next stop for the rescue ship Nor Norge
0:25:48 > 0:25:50is a Chilean airbase in Antarctica.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54But even being picked up from here is not straightforward.
0:25:55 > 0:26:00It's two days before a plane manages to land on this snow-covered air base.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03It will take them to the Chilean capital, Santiago.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08At that stage, we weren't sure it would be able to land.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10We were told it would come in and try to land
0:26:10 > 0:26:14but if it couldn't, it would go away and try again the next day.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17We just watched this dot getting bigger and bigger
0:26:17 > 0:26:21and then it did land. That was a great feeling. A cheer went up then!
0:26:25 > 0:26:28It's not exactly the luxury trip they'd hoped for.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30But at least they're safe.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38Within a week, Georgie and Clive are back in the UK.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42Our older daughter, Katie, said she'd pick us up from the airport.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46But when we got there, not only was Katie there, but Lucy, our other daughter,
0:26:46 > 0:26:50and Tom, our youngest grandson was there too.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53That was just such a wonderful moment.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56To think, "Yes, we're home. It's finished. It's over. We're safe."
0:26:56 > 0:26:59It's Mummy and Katie!
0:26:59 > 0:27:02Katie! Everybody's back together again!
0:27:02 > 0:27:06And Georgie can't thank all of those involved in their rescue enough.
0:27:06 > 0:27:13We learned that Falmouth coastguards had been instrumental in orchestrating the whole thing.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17There we were, in lifeboats in the middle of the Southern Ocean,
0:27:17 > 0:27:20not knowing whether anybody knew where we were,
0:27:20 > 0:27:24and there they are in Cornwall getting everything organised!
0:27:24 > 0:27:26It's a strange thought,
0:27:26 > 0:27:31but, goodness me, had it not been for their knowledge and expertise,
0:27:31 > 0:27:35that story would have had a completely different ending, yeah.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44Let's catch up with the people in tonight's other rescues.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47The Fitzgerald family, who crashed on the motorway,
0:27:47 > 0:27:50have bravely put the accident behind them.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53They won't be put off holidaymaking by this.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57I've found out that you can get some bands fitted to the tyres.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00If you get a puncture, you can still keep going.
0:28:00 > 0:28:01So I'm on the road again
0:28:01 > 0:28:05so I'll try not to clog up the M27 again!
0:28:07 > 0:28:12Cliff Pinwell, the man who lost his memory after falling over a hoover made a complete recovery.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14He's now back teaching.
0:28:16 > 0:28:17Join us again next week
0:28:17 > 0:28:20to see more real-life heroes at work
0:28:20 > 0:28:22on Real Rescues.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50Subtitles by Moira Diamond Red Bee Media - 2009