Chris Lemons survived a dramatic saturation diving incident in the North Sea after his umbilical was severed, leaving him without air for roughly half an hour. He was rescued, revived with CPR, and recovered without lasting injuries, a sequence that has been widely recounted in news pieces and the film Last Breath inspired by the event.

Key details and context

• What happened: While working on an offshore oil structure, a malfunction caused the vessel to drift, snapping Lemons’ air supply line. He became unconscious after being cut off from breathable air.

• Duration and oxygen: He reportedly spent a prolonged period without oxygen, with estimates commonly described as around 29 to 40 minutes without access to inhaled air, depending on the account. The exact physiological mechanisms behind such a survival duration remain a topic of discussion among experts.

• Rescue and outcome: He was rescued and given CPR at the diving bell; after two CPR events, his breathing returned to normal and he recovered without lasting effects. This near-miracle outcome has sparked public fascination and scientific curiosity.

• Public portrayal: The event was later adapted into the documentary and feature film Last Breath, which dramatizes the rescue and survival aspects, though some details differ between dramatization and reported facts.

What explains his survival (summary of prevailing explanations)

• Training and preparation: Lemons’ extensive experience as a saturation diver and his team’s training likely contributed to his ability to manage the crisis and endure low-oxygen conditions.

• Environmental factors: Extreme underwater pressure at depth can influence how the body handles low oxygen, and the use of high-oxygen mixtures in the emergency supply may have delayed tissue hypoxia. This is a point of discussion in analyses of the incident.

• Medical uncertainty: Even scientists and media outlets have noted that there is no definitive, widely accepted scientific explanation for how he survived such a lengthy interval without breathable air. The case remains exceptional and not fully understood.

If you’d like, I can pull specific quotes from the articles or summarize how the film Last Breath portrays the event versus the reported facts.