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0 / 28 Fotos
Atacama, Chile
- The incident in 2010 involving 33 Chilean miners who were trapped inside a collapsed San José mine was followed closely around the world.
© Getty Images
1 / 28 Fotos
Atacama, Chile
- The miners were trapped for an incredible 69 days and were successfully rescued. The rescue was watched by over one billion people and later depicted in the movie 'The 33.'
© Reuters
2 / 28 Fotos
Chiang Rai, Thailand
- In 2018, people all across Thailand and the world were relieved to learn that 12 boys and their soccer coach were found alive after going missing for nine days.
© Reuters
3 / 28 Fotos
Chiang Rai, Thailand
- The group got stuck in a flooded cave at the Tham Luang cave complex. British rescue divers located them while over 1,000 people were searching for them. A video captured the divers discovering the coach, who was 25 years old at the time, along with the boys aged between 11 and 16.
© Reuters
4 / 28 Fotos
Annapurna, The Himalayas
- In April 2010, a record-breaking rescue took place on Annapurna, the tenth highest peak in the world. Three Spanish climbers were trapped at an altitude of 2,2800 ft (6,950 m).
© NL Beeld
5 / 28 Fotos
Annapurna, The Himalayas
- The climbers were rescued by Captain Daniel Aufdenblatten, who used a long line to airlift them to safety. Richard Lehner, a guide, assisted the climbers during the operation. Both men were later honored with the Heroism Award.
© Reuters
6 / 28 Fotos
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- In 2010, Haiti experienced a destructive 7.0 earthquake which caused widespread devastation in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and had a significant impact on the lives of millions of people. A remarkable rescue occurred 15 days following the earthquake.
© NL Beeld
7 / 28 Fotos
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- Rescuers uncovered 16-year-old Darlene Etienne after hearing moans from a pile of debris. Etienne was discovered trapped under a metal fragment and she remained conscious throughout the entire ordeal.
© NL Beeld
8 / 28 Fotos
New York City, USA
- Captain Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger pulled off a remarkable water landing on the Hudson River, hailed as one of the most successful in history. The plane landed safely with 150 individuals on board.
© Reuters
9 / 28 Fotos
New York, USA
- The emergency landing occurred shortly after the plane departed from New York's LaGuardia Airport and was struck by a group of geese. All passengers on the plane survived, and this incident was depicted in the movie 'Sully,' featuring Tom Hanks.
© Reuters
10 / 28 Fotos
Apollo 13
- "Houston, we have a problem here"—the legendary words spoken by astronaut John "Jack" Swigert to the NASA Mission Control Center following the Apollo 13 crew detected the sound of an explosion.
© Public Domain
11 / 28 Fotos
Apollo 13
- In April 1970, the mission to the Moon encountered difficulties when an oxygen tank ruptured. The resourceful astronauts successfully fixed the carbon dioxide removal system and managed to land safely in the South Pacific.
© Public Domain
12 / 28 Fotos
Tehran, Iran
- In 1979, thousands of Iranians forcibly entered the US embassy and held dozens of Americans as hostages for 444 days. Fortunately, six American diplomats managed to evade capture, but they were still in grave danger as they laid low in Tehran.
© Public Domain
13 / 28 Fotos
Tehran, Iran
- The CIA devised an intricate scheme whereby the six diplomats assumed the roles of filmmakers working on a science-fiction movie titled 'Argo.' They claimed to be in Iran to search for suitable filming spots.
© Getty Images
14 / 28 Fotos
Tehran, Iran
- The diplomats were able to escape Iran with this cover story and some counterfeit passports. Actor-director Ben Affleck told the story of their incredible escape in the film 'Argo,' which received three Academy Awards.
© Reuters
15 / 28 Fotos
New Orleans, USA
- Hurricane Katrina was a deadly natural disaster in New Orleans, causing 1,000 fatalities and displacing many residents.
© Reuters
16 / 28 Fotos
New Orleans, USA
- In the months that followed the tragic day of August 25, 2005, the US Coast Guard made unwavering efforts to rescue those trapped and stranded. Ultimately, over 33,000 lives were saved by more than 5,000 rescuers.
© Reuters
17 / 28 Fotos
Texas, USA
- When 18-month-old Jessica McClure fell into a well in her aunt's backyard on October 14, 1987, rescuers worked for 58 hours straight to save her.
© Public Domain
18 / 28 Fotos
Texas, USA
- The entire journey was extensively covered on CNN for 24 hours, attracting millions of viewers across the United States who eagerly awaited the latest developments. The two-day ordeal came to a close with the successful rescue of baby Jessica.
© Getty Images
19 / 28 Fotos
The Andes, Chile
- On October 13, 1972, a plane en route from Montevideo, Uruguay to Santiago, Chile crashed in the Andes due to adverse weather conditions. More than a quarter of the passengers died and the remaining survivors resorted to cannibalism.
© Public Domain
20 / 28 Fotos
The Andes, Chile
- Nando Parrado and Roberto Canessa (pictured) bravely journeyed through the mountains to find help. On December 22, they returned with a rescue team, leading all 16 survivors to safety.
© Public Domain
21 / 28 Fotos
Nantucket Island, North Atlantic
- The Italian luxury liner, SS Andrea Doria, collided with the MS Stockholm in 1956, while carrying approximately 1,700 passengers.
© Public Domain
22 / 28 Fotos
Nantucket Island, North Atlantic
- The passengers quickly moved to the Stockholm and other close ships that responded to the emergency calls. The Andrea Doria sank dramatically and 46 people lost their lives.
© Public Domain
23 / 28 Fotos
Cabanatuan, Philippines
- A complex mission during World War II involved 121 US Army Rangers who volunteered to rescue over 500 allied prisoners of war from the Cabanatuan camp in the Philippines.
© Getty Images
24 / 28 Fotos
Cabanatuan, Philippines
- In January 1945, the Rangers conducted an unexpected assault on the Japanese forces, resulting in the liberation of hundreds of soldiers while sustaining few casualties.
© Getty Images
25 / 28 Fotos
Somalia
- On April 8, 2009, Captain Richard Phillips was taken hostage by four Somali pirates aboard the MV Maersk Alabama. He was captured and held on a lifeboat for four days, enduring a harrowing ordeal.
© Public Domain
26 / 28 Fotos
Somalia
- On April 12th, Navy Seal snipers observed a pirate aiming an AK-47 at the captain, which led them to believe his life was in danger. As a result, they took action and fired at the kidnappers, successfully rescuing Captain Philips unharmed. Interestingly, Tom Hanks, known for his portrayal of the heroic Captain Sully, also played the role of Captain Philips.
To see more: 'Armageddon alert' to set off alarm on millions of phones across the UK
© Public Domain
27 / 28 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 28 Fotos
Atacama, Chile
- The incident in 2010 involving 33 Chilean miners who were trapped inside a collapsed San José mine was followed closely around the world.
© Getty Images
1 / 28 Fotos
Atacama, Chile
- The miners were trapped for an incredible 69 days and were successfully rescued. The rescue was watched by over one billion people and later depicted in the movie 'The 33.'
© Reuters
2 / 28 Fotos
Chiang Rai, Thailand
- In 2018, people all across Thailand and the world were relieved to learn that 12 boys and their soccer coach were found alive after going missing for nine days.
© Reuters
3 / 28 Fotos
Chiang Rai, Thailand
- The group got stuck in a flooded cave at the Tham Luang cave complex. British rescue divers located them while over 1,000 people were searching for them. A video captured the divers discovering the coach, who was 25 years old at the time, along with the boys aged between 11 and 16.
© Reuters
4 / 28 Fotos
Annapurna, The Himalayas
- In April 2010, a record-breaking rescue took place on Annapurna, the tenth highest peak in the world. Three Spanish climbers were trapped at an altitude of 2,2800 ft (6,950 m).
© NL Beeld
5 / 28 Fotos
Annapurna, The Himalayas
- The climbers were rescued by Captain Daniel Aufdenblatten, who used a long line to airlift them to safety. Richard Lehner, a guide, assisted the climbers during the operation. Both men were later honored with the Heroism Award.
© Reuters
6 / 28 Fotos
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- In 2010, Haiti experienced a destructive 7.0 earthquake which caused widespread devastation in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and had a significant impact on the lives of millions of people. A remarkable rescue occurred 15 days following the earthquake.
© NL Beeld
7 / 28 Fotos
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- Rescuers uncovered 16-year-old Darlene Etienne after hearing moans from a pile of debris. Etienne was discovered trapped under a metal fragment and she remained conscious throughout the entire ordeal.
© NL Beeld
8 / 28 Fotos
New York City, USA
- Captain Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger pulled off a remarkable water landing on the Hudson River, hailed as one of the most successful in history. The plane landed safely with 150 individuals on board.
© Reuters
9 / 28 Fotos
New York, USA
- The emergency landing occurred shortly after the plane departed from New York's LaGuardia Airport and was struck by a group of geese. All passengers on the plane survived, and this incident was depicted in the movie 'Sully,' featuring Tom Hanks.
© Reuters
10 / 28 Fotos
Apollo 13
- "Houston, we have a problem here"—the legendary words spoken by astronaut John "Jack" Swigert to the NASA Mission Control Center following the Apollo 13 crew detected the sound of an explosion.
© Public Domain
11 / 28 Fotos
Apollo 13
- In April 1970, the mission to the Moon encountered difficulties when an oxygen tank ruptured. The resourceful astronauts successfully fixed the carbon dioxide removal system and managed to land safely in the South Pacific.
© Public Domain
12 / 28 Fotos
Tehran, Iran
- In 1979, thousands of Iranians forcibly entered the US embassy and held dozens of Americans as hostages for 444 days. Fortunately, six American diplomats managed to evade capture, but they were still in grave danger as they laid low in Tehran.
© Public Domain
13 / 28 Fotos
Tehran, Iran
- The CIA devised an intricate scheme whereby the six diplomats assumed the roles of filmmakers working on a science-fiction movie titled 'Argo.' They claimed to be in Iran to search for suitable filming spots.
© Getty Images
14 / 28 Fotos
Tehran, Iran
- The diplomats were able to escape Iran with this cover story and some counterfeit passports. Actor-director Ben Affleck told the story of their incredible escape in the film 'Argo,' which received three Academy Awards.
© Reuters
15 / 28 Fotos
New Orleans, USA
- Hurricane Katrina was a deadly natural disaster in New Orleans, causing 1,000 fatalities and displacing many residents.
© Reuters
16 / 28 Fotos
New Orleans, USA
- In the months that followed the tragic day of August 25, 2005, the US Coast Guard made unwavering efforts to rescue those trapped and stranded. Ultimately, over 33,000 lives were saved by more than 5,000 rescuers.
© Reuters
17 / 28 Fotos
Texas, USA
- When 18-month-old Jessica McClure fell into a well in her aunt's backyard on October 14, 1987, rescuers worked for 58 hours straight to save her.
© Public Domain
18 / 28 Fotos
Texas, USA
- The entire journey was extensively covered on CNN for 24 hours, attracting millions of viewers across the United States who eagerly awaited the latest developments. The two-day ordeal came to a close with the successful rescue of baby Jessica.
© Getty Images
19 / 28 Fotos
The Andes, Chile
- On October 13, 1972, a plane en route from Montevideo, Uruguay to Santiago, Chile crashed in the Andes due to adverse weather conditions. More than a quarter of the passengers died and the remaining survivors resorted to cannibalism.
© Public Domain
20 / 28 Fotos
The Andes, Chile
- Nando Parrado and Roberto Canessa (pictured) bravely journeyed through the mountains to find help. On December 22, they returned with a rescue team, leading all 16 survivors to safety.
© Public Domain
21 / 28 Fotos
Nantucket Island, North Atlantic
- The Italian luxury liner, SS Andrea Doria, collided with the MS Stockholm in 1956, while carrying approximately 1,700 passengers.
© Public Domain
22 / 28 Fotos
Nantucket Island, North Atlantic
- The passengers quickly moved to the Stockholm and other close ships that responded to the emergency calls. The Andrea Doria sank dramatically and 46 people lost their lives.
© Public Domain
23 / 28 Fotos
Cabanatuan, Philippines
- A complex mission during World War II involved 121 US Army Rangers who volunteered to rescue over 500 allied prisoners of war from the Cabanatuan camp in the Philippines.
© Getty Images
24 / 28 Fotos
Cabanatuan, Philippines
- In January 1945, the Rangers conducted an unexpected assault on the Japanese forces, resulting in the liberation of hundreds of soldiers while sustaining few casualties.
© Getty Images
25 / 28 Fotos
Somalia
- On April 8, 2009, Captain Richard Phillips was taken hostage by four Somali pirates aboard the MV Maersk Alabama. He was captured and held on a lifeboat for four days, enduring a harrowing ordeal.
© Public Domain
26 / 28 Fotos
Somalia
- On April 12th, Navy Seal snipers observed a pirate aiming an AK-47 at the captain, which led them to believe his life was in danger. As a result, they took action and fired at the kidnappers, successfully rescuing Captain Philips unharmed. Interestingly, Tom Hanks, known for his portrayal of the heroic Captain Sully, also played the role of Captain Philips.
To see more: 'Armageddon alert' to set off alarm on millions of phones across the UK
© Public Domain
27 / 28 Fotos
The most daring rescue missions in recent history
How did they pull it off?
© Getty Images
People all over the world encounter perilous situations on a daily basis, stemming from various causes like natural disasters, terrorism, and human error. However, the noble objective of a rescue mission is to preserve lives, often requiring rescuers to take great risks themselves.
Take a look at the most remarkable rescue missions in history by browsing through the gallery.
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