For hours after their boat sank, Ken Henderson and Ed Coen trod (踩) water in the Gulf of Mexico, talking about life and death while1to survive. For more than 30 hours, it worked.
Then Henderson was forced to make a decision that would2his life, but not his best friend's. "I'm going to go for help or you're not going to make it" Henderson told Coen, just before cutting the strap (带子) that3them in the deep, cold waters. "I understand," Coen responded, giving Henderson a4 set of instructions. "Kiss the babies for me."
Days after the5trip ended in tragedy, Henderson told the tale to the press.
They had been fishing for a few hours when suddenly Coen 6the boat was filled with water. Henderson got the engine roaring- only to have the salt water that had leaked in 7it straight away. Coen jumped to the right, his sunglasses and cap 8. The two grabbed extra life jackets and other floating items, including a half-full bottle of cola.
"The water was so cold and it took your breath away," Henderson said. They immediately began to9.
The pair prepared for a long wait. And they talked.
"We discussed things and discussed life. We discussed families. We just tried to keep 10," Henderson said.
Eventually Coen started hallucinating (产生幻觉). Henderson tried to keep Coen's arms and legs11 But as morning came, Coen's situation12. So Henderson decided to cut the strap.
He 13for two hours, tired, frustrated and depressed. Then he saw an oil rig(钻塔) in the,14. He swam, seeing ice and crystal trees in the water. He minded himself 15there were no trees.
His legs were so weak that he could 16lift them, and Henderson slowly pulled himself up the rig's ladder. It was over 50 miles from where they had gone in the water.
All he could think of was Coen. Convinced his friend would17, he told the coastguard where they had18.
Two hours later, a fisherman found a body in life jacket.
Later, in the hospital, Henderson saw his19. He apologized and asked for forgiveness. He 20to realise his wishes and look after his girls.
"I felt like a part of me had died out there," Henderson said.
