1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:00:24,983 --> 00:00:26,818 -[car door opens] -[keys jingling] 4 00:00:28,111 --> 00:00:30,071 -[car door slams] -[woman sighs heavily] 5 00:00:30,822 --> 00:00:31,823 [keys jingling] 6 00:00:32,824 --> 00:00:33,950 [car engine starts] 7 00:00:34,034 --> 00:00:36,036 ["Girl Don't Want Him" by Toddla T] 8 00:00:57,140 --> 00:00:59,142 [horn blaring] 9 00:01:03,980 --> 00:01:06,649 [woman, in Italian] Alessia, how do you feel about death? 10 00:01:07,275 --> 00:01:10,111 Honestly, I've never thought about it. 11 00:01:10,195 --> 00:01:12,864 I think if someone has to die, they will. 12 00:01:12,947 --> 00:01:15,784 Honestly, I don't think about death. I'm not afraid of death. 13 00:01:15,867 --> 00:01:18,495 I've never thought free diving could lead to death. 14 00:01:20,747 --> 00:01:22,373 [man, in English] Twenty seconds! 15 00:01:22,457 --> 00:01:24,459 [splashing] 16 00:01:25,126 --> 00:01:27,128 [Alessia inhaling deeply] 17 00:01:28,588 --> 00:01:30,340 [man] Ten seconds. 18 00:01:32,383 --> 00:01:37,222 Five, four, three, two, one. 19 00:01:41,017 --> 00:01:43,937 Alessia Zecchini. Italy. 20 00:01:44,020 --> 00:01:47,565 Four minutes. World record attempt. 21 00:01:47,649 --> 00:01:49,651 [heartbeat pulsing] 22 00:01:49,734 --> 00:01:51,736 [rapid, high-pitched beeping] 23 00:02:50,086 --> 00:02:52,088 [heartbeat slows] 24 00:02:52,172 --> 00:02:54,174 [beeping slows] 25 00:03:22,118 --> 00:03:24,120 [beeping fades] 26 00:03:29,959 --> 00:03:31,961 [heartbeat slowing further] 27 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:45,642 [beeping fades in] 28 00:03:53,816 --> 00:03:55,818 [faint beeping] 29 00:03:57,695 --> 00:03:59,697 [heartbeat deepens] 30 00:04:00,406 --> 00:04:02,408 [beeping speeding up] 31 00:04:05,036 --> 00:04:07,038 [heartbeat slowing further] 32 00:04:15,755 --> 00:04:17,757 [heartbeat slowing further] 33 00:04:20,593 --> 00:04:22,595 [rapid beeping continues] 34 00:04:34,899 --> 00:04:36,901 [heartbeat slowing and deepening] 35 00:04:40,238 --> 00:04:41,698 [heartbeat slowing further] 36 00:04:41,781 --> 00:04:43,783 [rapid beeping continues] 37 00:05:03,970 --> 00:05:05,388 [Alessia chokes] 38 00:05:05,471 --> 00:05:07,473 [steady beep] 39 00:05:12,937 --> 00:05:14,939 [in Italian] Okay, look at me. 40 00:05:15,023 --> 00:05:17,025 [loud, steady beep] 41 00:05:21,070 --> 00:05:24,157 [poignant music playing] 42 00:07:17,353 --> 00:07:19,355 [horns blaring] 43 00:07:27,196 --> 00:07:29,198 [siren wailing] 44 00:07:36,831 --> 00:07:41,711 [man, in Italian] Alessia was born in the afternoon, at around 20 to five. 45 00:07:43,671 --> 00:07:48,426 That night, I lay awake in bed, thinking 46 00:07:50,344 --> 00:07:52,555 about my wife, about my daughter. 47 00:07:54,056 --> 00:07:55,766 You never forget it. 48 00:07:58,603 --> 00:08:02,773 When you long for something… 49 00:08:04,859 --> 00:08:06,152 you can't forget it. 50 00:08:08,696 --> 00:08:10,615 This is one of Alessia's school essays. 51 00:08:11,449 --> 00:08:15,703 "Do you ever think that the people around you, your classmates, 52 00:08:15,786 --> 00:08:17,914 your friends, your parents, 53 00:08:17,997 --> 00:08:19,832 don't understand your dreams?" 54 00:08:24,712 --> 00:08:28,257 [woman, in Italian] I want to achieve my dream at all costs. 55 00:08:31,135 --> 00:08:33,429 I want to become a famous free diver. 56 00:08:38,434 --> 00:08:41,229 Natalia Molchanova is my greatest idol. 57 00:08:44,357 --> 00:08:47,777 I want to be just like her, a world champion. 58 00:08:49,111 --> 00:08:52,490 [man, in English] Molchanova holds over 40 free diving records. 59 00:08:53,241 --> 00:08:56,619 She's regarded as a legend in the sport's history. 60 00:08:57,453 --> 00:08:59,413 [speaking Italian] 61 00:08:59,497 --> 00:09:03,042 [woman, in Italian] I'm really embarrassed about this great dream of mine. 62 00:09:05,378 --> 00:09:09,632 It sounds like one of those things you say when you're a kid 63 00:09:09,715 --> 00:09:12,677 when asked what you want to be when you grow up. 64 00:09:14,929 --> 00:09:17,932 There are only a few people who understand my dream. 65 00:09:18,808 --> 00:09:21,352 My dad is one of those people. 66 00:09:23,104 --> 00:09:26,983 He understands my passion for the sea and for free diving. 67 00:09:32,321 --> 00:09:36,409 I'd do anything to make my dream come true. 68 00:09:47,295 --> 00:09:52,133 [Enzo, in Italian] If you don't have a dream to spur you on, you won't make it. 69 00:09:53,050 --> 00:09:56,387 But the price you pay 70 00:09:57,179 --> 00:09:58,514 is so high. 71 00:10:00,975 --> 00:10:02,101 [scoffs] 72 00:10:05,730 --> 00:10:07,815 Alessia and Steve. 73 00:10:09,025 --> 00:10:11,319 Their connection was very strong. 74 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:16,240 What brought them together? 75 00:10:19,994 --> 00:10:21,662 I've always believed 76 00:10:21,746 --> 00:10:26,334 that nothing ever happens to us by chance. 77 00:10:29,795 --> 00:10:32,548 There's always a connecting thread. 78 00:10:34,717 --> 00:10:38,804 Something that leads you down a certain road. 79 00:10:42,850 --> 00:10:46,103 [man, in English] Alessia and Stephen really became a duet… 80 00:10:46,187 --> 00:10:47,396 Ah! Remember? 81 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:48,481 [man] …in many ways. 82 00:10:48,564 --> 00:10:51,400 It was destiny that they found each other. 83 00:10:54,695 --> 00:10:59,116 I accepted that he was doing a dangerous thing. 84 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:01,452 And I just kind of lived with that. 85 00:11:08,125 --> 00:11:10,127 [seagulls calling] 86 00:11:15,675 --> 00:11:17,134 Dad, come on! 87 00:11:18,302 --> 00:11:19,970 Dad, come on! 88 00:11:22,139 --> 00:11:23,891 Come on! 89 00:11:26,310 --> 00:11:27,853 [man] I've always been curious. 90 00:11:28,771 --> 00:11:30,690 I was always kind of fascinated by wilderness, 91 00:11:30,773 --> 00:11:32,817 and animals, and the sea. 92 00:11:36,570 --> 00:11:39,115 [Peter] Stephen loved being out in the wild. 93 00:11:40,866 --> 00:11:44,870 The two of us would go swimming at 5:00 in the morning, as the sun was coming up. 94 00:11:46,706 --> 00:11:48,916 I'd dive down. I would snorkel. 95 00:11:48,999 --> 00:11:52,420 And he'd be holding my hand and pointing, with his own snorkel, 96 00:11:52,503 --> 00:11:55,047 and pointing out fish here and fish there. 97 00:11:55,131 --> 00:11:57,633 "What's the biggest this? What's the smallest that?" 98 00:11:57,717 --> 00:12:02,346 "What's the… the least common whale? What's the most common whale?" 99 00:12:02,430 --> 00:12:04,724 Those endless "Why?" 100 00:12:04,807 --> 00:12:06,308 "What? Where?" 101 00:12:06,392 --> 00:12:08,018 "How often? How many?" 102 00:12:09,770 --> 00:12:14,692 His interest in nature started with us watching David Attenborough. 103 00:12:14,775 --> 00:12:17,653 I'm in the middle of central New Guinea. 104 00:12:17,737 --> 00:12:21,073 One of the few places left on the surface of the Earth 105 00:12:21,157 --> 00:12:22,742 that are truly unexplored. 106 00:12:23,242 --> 00:12:26,203 [Stephen] I always had it in my head that I wanted to be an explorer. 107 00:12:27,663 --> 00:12:30,082 I always loved looking at places like the Amazon 108 00:12:30,166 --> 00:12:33,753 and Congo, and Indonesia, and imagining what it's like to be there. 109 00:12:39,216 --> 00:12:41,177 [boy] Keenan, looking good! 110 00:12:42,052 --> 00:12:46,515 [Peter] When Stephen got to his teens, I left the family home. 111 00:12:49,435 --> 00:12:51,562 I almost don't want to think about it. 112 00:12:51,645 --> 00:12:54,523 I feel very bad about it in ma-- in ways. 113 00:12:55,107 --> 00:12:58,068 He was very hurt. He was very-- He was heartbroken. 114 00:12:58,986 --> 00:13:02,364 I do remember, when he was 17, having a row with him 115 00:13:02,448 --> 00:13:06,994 about spending money on alcohol with his friends. 116 00:13:07,953 --> 00:13:11,123 His mother was a bit worried about, was he starting to drink a bit early? 117 00:13:12,041 --> 00:13:15,878 He was looking at, "What am I going to be after I leave school?" 118 00:13:15,961 --> 00:13:18,130 "How am I going to follow my dream?" 119 00:13:18,923 --> 00:13:20,966 He really hadn't a clue. 120 00:13:26,597 --> 00:13:30,226 [Alessia, in Italian] By the time I was 13, I knew what I wanted to do. 121 00:13:34,647 --> 00:13:37,483 It wasn't easy to find a class when I was a kid. 122 00:13:38,818 --> 00:13:40,069 They were all men. 123 00:13:40,152 --> 00:13:42,154 [suspenseful music playing] 124 00:13:49,995 --> 00:13:53,332 [man, in Italian] I remember Alessia turning up with her dad. 125 00:13:54,208 --> 00:13:56,794 This little girl with blue eyes. 126 00:13:56,877 --> 00:14:00,923 I remember that I didn't even hear Alessia's voice. She just laughed. 127 00:14:01,006 --> 00:14:03,008 [inspiring music playing] 128 00:14:16,063 --> 00:14:19,775 I think I had done about 100 meters. 129 00:14:21,485 --> 00:14:24,613 It took us many years to reach those numbers. 130 00:14:34,456 --> 00:14:37,251 The kid did 105 meters. 131 00:14:37,334 --> 00:14:38,961 [applause] 132 00:14:43,716 --> 00:14:48,429 That's when you ask yourself some questions! 133 00:14:50,681 --> 00:14:52,474 How will it all end? 134 00:14:56,228 --> 00:15:00,149 We went to some competitions for free diving in the sea. 135 00:15:02,109 --> 00:15:08,282 They dived from the boat using a rock as a counterweight. 136 00:15:13,829 --> 00:15:16,540 [Alessia] And I said, "Let's see how deep I can go." 137 00:15:22,713 --> 00:15:24,465 By holding your breath, 138 00:15:24,548 --> 00:15:27,384 you get to understand a lot more about yourself. 139 00:15:47,947 --> 00:15:50,282 I managed to descend to 52 meters. 140 00:15:55,871 --> 00:15:57,539 -[man, in English] Well done! -[cheering] 141 00:15:57,623 --> 00:16:00,084 -[spectators] Brava! -[applause and laughter] 142 00:16:00,167 --> 00:16:03,504 [Enzo, in Italian] To see such a young girl 143 00:16:03,587 --> 00:16:07,841 reach such depths 144 00:16:07,925 --> 00:16:10,135 attracted a lot of attention. 145 00:16:15,307 --> 00:16:19,520 And then the federation releases a statement 146 00:16:19,603 --> 00:16:25,442 banning under-18s from taking part in official competitions. 147 00:16:30,239 --> 00:16:32,366 [Alessia] In my darkest moments, I cried. 148 00:16:33,867 --> 00:16:39,665 There were arguments with my father, with my coach. 149 00:16:41,542 --> 00:16:44,545 At that moment, I said, "What am I going to do now?" 150 00:16:47,297 --> 00:16:49,299 -[cheering and applause] -[man] Speech! 151 00:16:49,925 --> 00:16:53,804 [in English] Being told you're being best man is usually a very emotional, 152 00:16:53,887 --> 00:16:55,472 bonding moment between friends. 153 00:16:55,556 --> 00:16:56,473 [woman laughs] 154 00:16:56,557 --> 00:16:59,852 However, I found out some months after the decision was made 155 00:16:59,935 --> 00:17:01,603 and through one of the lads. 156 00:17:01,687 --> 00:17:03,355 [laughter] 157 00:17:03,439 --> 00:17:06,191 [Stephen] I didn't know what I was going to do with my life. 158 00:17:06,275 --> 00:17:07,526 Also, I'm a bit worried… 159 00:17:07,609 --> 00:17:10,654 I knew I didn't want to stay at home, settle down. 160 00:17:10,738 --> 00:17:12,489 I knew that wasn't gonna happen. 161 00:17:13,073 --> 00:17:14,450 [woman] Look who's there! 162 00:17:14,533 --> 00:17:16,910 I just hope you're brave, pointing that thing at her. 163 00:17:16,994 --> 00:17:19,455 [Stephen] But then my mother just got sick. 164 00:17:20,289 --> 00:17:22,291 I don't want to ruin another tape. 165 00:17:23,667 --> 00:17:25,669 [laughing] No, no! 166 00:17:26,795 --> 00:17:28,172 [Peter] Maura got cancer. 167 00:17:28,255 --> 00:17:30,007 Do you remember last time? 168 00:17:30,841 --> 00:17:33,302 [Peter] Both Stephen and his younger brother Gary 169 00:17:33,385 --> 00:17:35,262 were really close to their mother. 170 00:17:37,848 --> 00:17:39,558 It was very upsetting for them. 171 00:17:40,476 --> 00:17:42,478 [woman] You're taking their mammy. 172 00:17:42,561 --> 00:17:44,730 They were a great lift to her. 173 00:17:44,813 --> 00:17:46,815 [poignant music playing] 174 00:17:50,694 --> 00:17:52,946 She died at such an early age. 175 00:18:02,039 --> 00:18:06,919 Stephen had seen firsthand how unjust fate can be. 176 00:18:08,587 --> 00:18:12,049 It did inform his personal philosophies. 177 00:18:12,841 --> 00:18:14,343 Live for today, 178 00:18:15,427 --> 00:18:17,930 for you never know what's coming down the line. 179 00:18:19,264 --> 00:18:25,687 So he wanted to drink up every last drop of the world. 180 00:18:27,022 --> 00:18:29,274 [Stephen] The Amazon, Congo, and Indonesia. 181 00:18:29,358 --> 00:18:32,486 It had always been a dream of mine to get to these places. 182 00:18:34,696 --> 00:18:37,032 When I was young, I collected National Geographic. 183 00:18:37,116 --> 00:18:41,620 I remember, it was a picture of a gorilla wading through this peat bog water, 184 00:18:41,703 --> 00:18:44,581 and this photograph was taken in Northern Congo. 185 00:18:46,250 --> 00:18:48,168 [optimistic music playing] 186 00:18:48,252 --> 00:18:51,964 I was going to travel to Congo, and then find the gorillas. 187 00:18:57,052 --> 00:18:59,263 It was kind of a daunting experience. 188 00:18:59,763 --> 00:19:02,015 I'd never done anything like this. 189 00:19:06,770 --> 00:19:08,188 [in French] What's your name? 190 00:19:08,272 --> 00:19:09,481 Stephen. Steve. 191 00:19:09,565 --> 00:19:11,483 -Stephen? -Yes. 192 00:19:11,567 --> 00:19:14,695 -Huh. Are you Christian? -Yes. 193 00:19:14,778 --> 00:19:17,072 -In Ireland, we are-- -Protestant? 194 00:19:17,156 --> 00:19:18,323 No, Catholic. 195 00:19:22,077 --> 00:19:23,287 [in English] Palm wine. 196 00:19:23,996 --> 00:19:25,080 [man chuckles] 197 00:19:26,165 --> 00:19:27,958 -[in French] Yes? -[laughter] 198 00:19:30,669 --> 00:19:32,087 -[Stephen, in English] Hi. -Hello. 199 00:19:32,171 --> 00:19:34,173 [Stephen] She's been the village queen for how long? 200 00:19:34,256 --> 00:19:36,091 -[man] Six years now. -[Stephen] Six? Okay. 201 00:19:36,175 --> 00:19:38,760 Looks like I'm staying here tonight with this family. 202 00:19:38,844 --> 00:19:40,179 [child singing] 203 00:19:41,471 --> 00:19:43,473 [children laughing] 204 00:19:46,518 --> 00:19:49,771 [Stephen] Apparently, everyone who crosses the river gets river blindness. 205 00:19:49,855 --> 00:19:53,525 So I'm told that I have it now. I'll have to get some treatment. 206 00:19:53,609 --> 00:19:54,693 At last. 207 00:19:56,278 --> 00:19:57,446 Flippin' heck. 208 00:20:01,992 --> 00:20:03,452 [bird calling] 209 00:20:04,244 --> 00:20:06,121 Just over the Congolese border. 210 00:20:06,205 --> 00:20:07,623 [child calling out] 211 00:20:08,165 --> 00:20:09,917 [inspiring music playing] 212 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:11,210 [Stephen] Whoa! 213 00:20:22,596 --> 00:20:24,097 -So here we are. -[man] Okay. 214 00:20:25,265 --> 00:20:29,353 [Stephen] It was one of my lifelong dreams to be in such a place. I was, I'd made it. 215 00:20:29,436 --> 00:20:31,813 And this really lit something up inside me, 216 00:20:31,897 --> 00:20:34,524 to do something really unusual with my life. 217 00:20:36,610 --> 00:20:38,278 To find what I was searching for, 218 00:20:38,362 --> 00:20:41,198 I knew I needed to take the less-traveled road. 219 00:20:43,033 --> 00:20:45,077 [beeping] 220 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:46,870 [calm, ethereal music playing] 221 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,251 [Alessia, in Italian] I wanted free diving to be my life. 222 00:20:53,001 --> 00:20:56,213 So even though I saw four years as a really long time, 223 00:20:56,296 --> 00:20:59,174 I said, "Okay. Come on, let's keep doing this." 224 00:21:04,346 --> 00:21:06,890 Plenty of others would have said, "Okay." 225 00:21:07,474 --> 00:21:11,019 "I'll do something else." 226 00:21:11,728 --> 00:21:14,064 But not her. She carried on regardless. 227 00:21:17,734 --> 00:21:20,028 She continued going to the pool, 228 00:21:20,529 --> 00:21:21,738 to the sea. 229 00:21:25,617 --> 00:21:29,913 Then you realize there's something that drives her. 230 00:21:33,292 --> 00:21:36,878 ♪ Happy birthday to you ♪ 231 00:21:36,962 --> 00:21:38,380 [Enzo] Once she turned 18… 232 00:21:40,173 --> 00:21:42,301 she suddenly arrived, like a rocket. 233 00:21:52,352 --> 00:21:55,731 [Homar, in Italian] She immediately showed her potential. 234 00:22:01,695 --> 00:22:03,739 150 meters in the pool. 235 00:22:04,948 --> 00:22:06,575 At first, it was, "Wow." 236 00:22:09,536 --> 00:22:11,705 But Ilaria was better. 237 00:22:13,165 --> 00:22:16,501 [in Italian] I certainly wasn't expecting this result. 238 00:22:24,092 --> 00:22:26,595 [Ilaria, in English] I was the strongest in Italy. 239 00:22:28,930 --> 00:22:33,727 Alessia was the only one that can get anywhere close to me. 240 00:22:35,437 --> 00:22:40,609 [laughing] But Alessia, in that period, was a really… crazy head. 241 00:22:41,276 --> 00:22:45,072 [man, in Italian] Here's Alessia Zecchini. Near the 200-meter wall. 242 00:22:45,155 --> 00:22:46,948 Let's see if she turns. 243 00:22:47,866 --> 00:22:49,326 No, she's coming out. 244 00:22:50,535 --> 00:22:54,414 [Ilaria, in English] She was really young, with a teenage mind. 245 00:22:54,498 --> 00:22:55,916 She was sad. 246 00:22:55,999 --> 00:22:57,542 She was upset. 247 00:22:57,626 --> 00:23:00,128 [in Italian] It was really tough. 248 00:23:00,212 --> 00:23:01,088 Hmm… 249 00:23:01,171 --> 00:23:04,508 I knew if I pushed more, I wouldn't have come out well. 250 00:23:04,591 --> 00:23:05,717 [announcer] Ilaria Bonin! 251 00:23:05,801 --> 00:23:06,927 [man] Go on, Ilaria! 252 00:23:07,010 --> 00:23:08,512 [cheering and applause] 253 00:23:08,595 --> 00:23:11,056 [Ilaria, in English] If you want to be the best 254 00:23:11,139 --> 00:23:14,267 and you always take silver medal… 255 00:23:14,351 --> 00:23:15,394 [winces] 256 00:23:15,477 --> 00:23:18,438 Ah, it's something that drives you mad. 257 00:23:21,066 --> 00:23:24,986 [Enzo, in Italian] When someone out there is stronger than you, 258 00:23:25,737 --> 00:23:27,906 it becomes another motivation. 259 00:23:30,409 --> 00:23:31,827 [quiet conversation in Italian] 260 00:23:33,078 --> 00:23:36,706 [Alessia, in Italian] I had to improve so much to set an Italian record. 261 00:23:38,708 --> 00:23:43,296 For me, it took watching Natalia's videos to realize how I could get there. 262 00:23:45,465 --> 00:23:49,594 [in Russian] My advice is that mental relaxation 263 00:23:49,678 --> 00:23:51,847 is the foundation of free diving. 264 00:23:52,806 --> 00:23:57,477 If we want to be successful underwater, 265 00:23:57,561 --> 00:24:03,316 we should be relaxed, not running towards some goal. 266 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:05,402 [uplifting music playing] 267 00:24:06,319 --> 00:24:11,408 [in English] She start to approach the competition in a different way. 268 00:24:16,580 --> 00:24:18,957 She was so relaxed. 269 00:24:25,380 --> 00:24:27,591 [man, in Italian] That's good. Stop. 270 00:24:28,091 --> 00:24:30,093 Brava! [counting in Italian] 271 00:24:31,303 --> 00:24:32,304 [woman cheers] 272 00:24:32,387 --> 00:24:36,308 [man, in Italian] An amazing 224-meter performance. 273 00:24:37,976 --> 00:24:41,605 [in English] She was so satisfied when she reached the gold medal. 274 00:24:42,147 --> 00:24:44,649 [man, in Italian] Congratulations for this new Italian title. 275 00:24:44,733 --> 00:24:47,444 Yes, it's amazing. At last! 276 00:24:48,403 --> 00:24:51,198 [Ilaria, in English] That moment was the beginning 277 00:24:51,281 --> 00:24:54,326 of our deep friendship. 278 00:24:57,245 --> 00:25:01,917 This result was always written. 279 00:25:02,834 --> 00:25:07,005 She had some supernatural power with free diving. 280 00:25:09,174 --> 00:25:10,592 [applause and cheering] 281 00:25:11,468 --> 00:25:14,679 But the pool was too small for Alessia. 282 00:25:16,264 --> 00:25:17,933 [seabirds calling] 283 00:25:18,808 --> 00:25:21,728 The sea was really her home. 284 00:25:31,530 --> 00:25:36,034 [Peter] Stephen thought that he'd meet his ultimate destiny somewhere in Africa. 285 00:25:40,038 --> 00:25:42,123 With the lads in Ethiopia. 286 00:25:42,916 --> 00:25:45,377 [Peter] Ethiopia, Sudan, 287 00:25:46,419 --> 00:25:47,587 Sierra Leone… 288 00:25:47,671 --> 00:25:48,672 [horns honking] 289 00:25:48,755 --> 00:25:49,965 -Nigeria. -[cheering] 290 00:25:50,632 --> 00:25:53,760 He traveled with a lot of care and seriousness. 291 00:25:57,681 --> 00:26:01,810 However, very bad things nearly happened on a number of occasions. 292 00:26:03,853 --> 00:26:07,232 In Guinea, there was a popular uprising against the president. 293 00:26:07,315 --> 00:26:08,692 [gunshots] 294 00:26:10,694 --> 00:26:12,696 There's been gunfire all morning. 295 00:26:12,779 --> 00:26:15,282 Every so often, you hear, "bam, bam, bam." 296 00:26:15,365 --> 00:26:16,825 [gunshots continue] 297 00:26:19,494 --> 00:26:21,496 [Peter] He was torn and conflicted. 298 00:26:21,580 --> 00:26:25,250 He'd say, "I wonder, should I be doing what all my friends are doing?" 299 00:26:25,917 --> 00:26:29,004 "Getting married. Some of them have children." 300 00:26:30,171 --> 00:26:32,173 "What am I not doing that I should be doing?" 301 00:26:32,257 --> 00:26:34,676 "Am I right living my life the way I am?" 302 00:26:34,759 --> 00:26:36,011 [animal cooing] 303 00:26:38,638 --> 00:26:40,140 He asked me once 304 00:26:41,433 --> 00:26:42,767 if I was disappointed in him. 305 00:26:44,728 --> 00:26:46,605 Wandering around the world like this, 306 00:26:46,688 --> 00:26:50,025 searching for something that he couldn't put his finger on. 307 00:26:51,568 --> 00:26:52,986 [insects chirping] 308 00:26:53,862 --> 00:26:56,531 [Stephen] Been thinking about family, my friends. 309 00:26:57,991 --> 00:26:59,951 It is, without doubt, the lowest, 310 00:27:00,994 --> 00:27:03,163 awfullest time of my life right now. 311 00:27:07,042 --> 00:27:08,001 Anyway… 312 00:27:10,295 --> 00:27:11,588 until tomorrow. 313 00:27:15,342 --> 00:27:18,803 [Peter] He was going to come home and live the conventional life. 314 00:27:18,887 --> 00:27:23,058 But before that, he was going to make one last stop. 315 00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:27,437 [ethereal music playing] 316 00:27:30,106 --> 00:27:32,651 Stephen always loved the sea. 317 00:27:32,734 --> 00:27:35,236 He loved scuba diving out in the ocean. 318 00:27:35,862 --> 00:27:40,367 He heard that there was a town in Egypt which is kind of a mecca for divers. 319 00:27:45,246 --> 00:27:48,792 [Stephen] I recall going along the coast and just listening to the sea. 320 00:27:51,753 --> 00:27:54,172 I got a real feeling of hope about this place. 321 00:27:57,801 --> 00:28:00,595 [man] When Steve drive from Cairo by bus, 322 00:28:00,679 --> 00:28:02,222 all the way to Dahab, 323 00:28:02,305 --> 00:28:04,015 he just throw the bag in the room. 324 00:28:04,099 --> 00:28:06,476 He just, "Where's the bar? Let's go have a drink." 325 00:28:06,559 --> 00:28:08,353 Next day, he go diving. 326 00:28:08,436 --> 00:28:10,230 He become a friend. 327 00:28:10,313 --> 00:28:12,023 We see each other every day. 328 00:28:13,692 --> 00:28:16,319 He loved the Bedouin culture. He learned Arabic. 329 00:28:18,530 --> 00:28:20,323 We become like family. 330 00:28:21,783 --> 00:28:26,287 [Peter] He stayed down there, making a living instructing scuba diving. 331 00:28:26,371 --> 00:28:27,622 [children shouting] 332 00:28:30,875 --> 00:28:33,920 So I arrived here to do my Divemaster course, 333 00:28:34,003 --> 00:28:35,547 and that was Steve. 334 00:28:36,589 --> 00:28:37,966 He was my instructor. 335 00:28:39,676 --> 00:28:42,262 Before long, we were hanging out daily. 336 00:28:42,971 --> 00:28:45,014 And going out dancing. 337 00:28:46,683 --> 00:28:49,519 [Mahmoud] Dahab, for Steve, a second home. 338 00:28:52,689 --> 00:28:56,359 [Peter] He had a little house of his own. He just loved it. 339 00:28:57,777 --> 00:28:59,696 'Cause he told me at one stage, 340 00:28:59,779 --> 00:29:02,323 "I've discovered this new thing called free diving, 341 00:29:02,407 --> 00:29:04,033 and it's the business." 342 00:29:09,956 --> 00:29:12,417 [Kristof] Steve asked me to join him on a free dive session. 343 00:29:18,715 --> 00:29:20,383 [ethereal music playing] 344 00:29:29,225 --> 00:29:31,686 The first time I dived down, holding my breath, 345 00:29:31,770 --> 00:29:35,482 all the problems and the shit from daily life just vanished. 346 00:29:36,024 --> 00:29:38,568 It doesn't exist down there. It's beautiful. 347 00:29:49,537 --> 00:29:51,998 Steve just fell in love with free diving. 348 00:29:52,791 --> 00:29:54,501 And especially the Blue Hole. 349 00:30:01,049 --> 00:30:03,843 You literally walk from the beach into an abyss. 350 00:30:03,927 --> 00:30:07,096 Like, there is this gaping hole in the coral reef, 351 00:30:08,056 --> 00:30:10,892 which really, like, wants you to go down there. 352 00:30:14,187 --> 00:30:17,190 And then there's this arch, like a chapel underwater. 353 00:30:22,403 --> 00:30:26,032 Unfortunately, it also has a… a bad reputation. 354 00:30:27,367 --> 00:30:28,535 It took lives. 355 00:30:29,577 --> 00:30:32,872 [man] This is the most dangerous dive site on Earth. 356 00:30:34,749 --> 00:30:37,585 It's thought to have claimed over 100 lives. 357 00:30:40,213 --> 00:30:41,714 [man] In terms of fatalities, 358 00:30:41,798 --> 00:30:45,134 the Blue Hole is even more perilous than Mount Everest. 359 00:30:50,598 --> 00:30:51,808 As well as myself, 360 00:30:52,308 --> 00:30:55,228 there's only a handful of people who have free dived through it. 361 00:30:57,772 --> 00:31:00,984 Natalia Molchanova was the only woman to do it. 362 00:31:04,988 --> 00:31:08,408 [in Russian] Diving the Arch has left a lasting impression on me. 363 00:31:09,576 --> 00:31:12,495 [man, in English] This is the dive that unlocked something within herself. 364 00:31:12,579 --> 00:31:14,873 A fearlessness that she didn't know was there. 365 00:31:15,957 --> 00:31:18,751 It made her the best free diver in the world. 366 00:31:21,588 --> 00:31:25,174 With the Arch, you've got to know if you're ready for it. 367 00:31:27,969 --> 00:31:32,015 It's a really deceiving place to dive. 368 00:31:33,683 --> 00:31:35,685 You have to find the exit. 369 00:31:35,768 --> 00:31:38,855 If you aren't able to see it clearly for any reason, 370 00:31:38,938 --> 00:31:40,315 you're basically on your own. 371 00:31:43,818 --> 00:31:47,030 If something does go wrong, there's no way to come up. 372 00:31:47,864 --> 00:31:50,575 There's 30 meters of rock over your head. 373 00:31:59,834 --> 00:32:01,377 [woman] Outside the Blue Hole, 374 00:32:01,461 --> 00:32:05,423 there are the memory stones remembering the people who died there. 375 00:32:08,426 --> 00:32:11,888 My boyfriend died in… in the Blue Hole, 376 00:32:11,971 --> 00:32:14,349 just when I moved to Egypt. 377 00:32:16,059 --> 00:32:18,311 It is dangerous because it is deep. 378 00:32:19,812 --> 00:32:21,397 It is always the ocean. 379 00:32:22,523 --> 00:32:24,025 And we are nothing. 380 00:32:28,237 --> 00:32:30,406 [man] So you've said that your objective 381 00:32:30,490 --> 00:32:35,370 is to become the second woman in the world, after Natalia Molchanova, 382 00:32:35,453 --> 00:32:39,165 to conquer all the absolute world records. 383 00:32:39,248 --> 00:32:41,668 So how long do you think this is gonna take you? 384 00:32:41,751 --> 00:32:43,753 [cheering and applause] 385 00:32:43,836 --> 00:32:47,548 [Alessia, in English] I don't know. [laughs] Of course, it's a dream. 386 00:32:48,091 --> 00:32:50,510 Really, a dream for every athlete, I think. 387 00:32:50,593 --> 00:32:53,137 But it's really difficult. 388 00:32:54,389 --> 00:32:57,392 [man, in English] Natalia Molchanova, champion of the deep, 389 00:32:58,017 --> 00:33:00,687 holding over 40 free diving records, 390 00:33:00,770 --> 00:33:04,107 some of them incredible, death-defying feats. 391 00:33:04,691 --> 00:33:07,735 [in English] Today, my dive was 101 meters. 392 00:33:07,819 --> 00:33:11,197 [man] That's 101 meters down and up. 393 00:33:11,280 --> 00:33:13,324 More than two Statues of Liberty, 394 00:33:13,408 --> 00:33:15,034 stacked ground to torch. 395 00:33:16,661 --> 00:33:21,874 [woman] Natalia was the first female free diver to reach 101 meters 396 00:33:21,958 --> 00:33:23,209 in competition. 397 00:33:23,292 --> 00:33:27,338 And she held that number for a very long time. 398 00:33:28,047 --> 00:33:33,052 So 101 was the magical number Alessia was trying to beat. 399 00:33:34,262 --> 00:33:36,806 [in Italian] I want to improve by a few meters. 400 00:33:36,889 --> 00:33:39,434 In fact, I hope to go well beyond 90 meters, 401 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:44,605 to then touch the three-digit number in a couple of years. 402 00:33:47,066 --> 00:33:52,321 [in English] Everybody must have a dream and put all their effort in. 403 00:33:52,405 --> 00:33:54,615 And really, everything is possible. 404 00:33:56,242 --> 00:34:00,329 [host] Can you describe the feeling of diving at those-- those kind of depths? 405 00:34:03,041 --> 00:34:07,003 Talk about the feeling on the body of the pressure. 406 00:34:08,212 --> 00:34:09,922 [Alessia, in English] The deeper I'm diving, 407 00:34:10,006 --> 00:34:13,426 the pressure compresses the air in my lungs, 408 00:34:14,093 --> 00:34:18,056 until my lungs are the size of my fist. 409 00:34:18,139 --> 00:34:20,141 [heartbeat] 410 00:34:25,021 --> 00:34:29,358 After 30 meters, the pressure pushes me down. 411 00:34:29,442 --> 00:34:31,027 [heartbeat slowing] 412 00:34:31,652 --> 00:34:33,154 It's called the free fall. 413 00:34:33,237 --> 00:34:35,615 And this is, for me, the best part. 414 00:34:37,533 --> 00:34:39,452 It feels like you are flying. 415 00:34:43,289 --> 00:34:46,709 The silence, it's unique. 416 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:51,172 It's like being in the last quiet place on the Earth. 417 00:34:52,048 --> 00:34:53,758 [heartbeat deepening and slowing] 418 00:35:07,188 --> 00:35:09,482 [Adam] There's a surrender element to it. 419 00:35:09,565 --> 00:35:10,858 It's like a high. 420 00:35:11,734 --> 00:35:14,821 But getting sucked to the bottom of the sea can be scary, 421 00:35:14,904 --> 00:35:16,239 even for free divers. 422 00:35:19,659 --> 00:35:22,036 You have to break this deep meditation. 423 00:35:22,787 --> 00:35:26,999 'Cause coming back to the surface, that's when the work really starts. 424 00:35:27,083 --> 00:35:30,336 You've gotta swim the length of a 70-storey skyscraper. 425 00:35:33,256 --> 00:35:37,218 Swimming against all that pressure, it's like swimming against the current. 426 00:35:40,888 --> 00:35:43,641 By then, your oxygen supply's already dwindled. 427 00:35:46,144 --> 00:35:48,855 You're kicking hard so your heart rate's increasing, 428 00:35:48,938 --> 00:35:50,356 burning that oxygen quicker. 429 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:53,025 [urgent music playing] 430 00:35:56,821 --> 00:35:58,197 You're getting to the point 431 00:35:58,281 --> 00:36:01,367 where you don't have enough oxygen to keep the systems going. 432 00:36:03,244 --> 00:36:05,288 That's when you can have a blackout. 433 00:36:12,044 --> 00:36:14,630 [William] The brain basically just turns itself off. 434 00:36:15,965 --> 00:36:18,634 It doesn't mean that your brain is dying. 435 00:36:19,510 --> 00:36:21,637 But it's kind of like a safety mechanism. 436 00:36:21,721 --> 00:36:25,600 The brain preserves itself by shutting off all its functions. 437 00:36:27,393 --> 00:36:30,605 And from that moment, you still have one or two minutes 438 00:36:30,688 --> 00:36:32,940 before brain damage would start to occur. 439 00:36:33,024 --> 00:36:34,275 [man] Right, one more. 440 00:36:34,358 --> 00:36:35,860 [blowing] 441 00:36:35,943 --> 00:36:38,029 [pensive music playing] 442 00:36:38,112 --> 00:36:40,781 [William] If you don't have the right kind of medical attention, 443 00:36:40,865 --> 00:36:42,533 it can go downhill pretty quick. 444 00:36:43,618 --> 00:36:46,078 It's definitely not something to be taken lightly. 445 00:36:59,342 --> 00:37:02,678 [Kristof] For years, Steve and I were always trying to dive deeper. 446 00:37:04,180 --> 00:37:08,309 It became like a game between us. I was going for the Belgian record. 447 00:37:08,893 --> 00:37:12,772 He was chasing the Irish one, which was 61 meters. 448 00:37:15,733 --> 00:37:19,070 When you start competing, you wanna push yourself. 449 00:37:19,153 --> 00:37:21,155 [pensive music continues] 450 00:37:24,116 --> 00:37:25,201 [Stephen chokes] 451 00:37:25,284 --> 00:37:27,745 [Kristof] He had a few blackouts in the beginning. 452 00:37:31,999 --> 00:37:36,128 He likes to bang his head on the wall. You know, really, like, "Let's do this!" 453 00:37:36,212 --> 00:37:38,506 And, like, "I can't, but I'm gonna do it anyway." 454 00:37:38,589 --> 00:37:40,591 -[Kristof] How deep? -Sixty. 455 00:37:40,675 --> 00:37:42,468 -Okay. -Shite. 456 00:37:47,181 --> 00:37:48,683 [panting] 457 00:37:51,978 --> 00:37:54,021 [Kristof] But Steve never gives up. 458 00:37:55,231 --> 00:37:57,149 [inspirational music playing] 459 00:38:08,494 --> 00:38:10,496 -Yeah! -[cheering] 460 00:38:12,456 --> 00:38:14,959 And it made him very proud to be the best Irish. 461 00:38:19,839 --> 00:38:21,507 [Peter] The other attraction of free diving 462 00:38:21,590 --> 00:38:24,593 was that it was a boundary. 463 00:38:26,220 --> 00:38:27,847 A boundary to be pushed. 464 00:38:29,223 --> 00:38:31,767 Free diving is an extreme sport. 465 00:38:32,601 --> 00:38:36,689 And extreme sports have extreme consequences. 466 00:38:44,030 --> 00:38:45,364 [gasping] 467 00:39:10,306 --> 00:39:11,182 Stephen? 468 00:39:12,224 --> 00:39:14,894 [Kristof] Steve had a really, really strong blackout. 469 00:39:16,103 --> 00:39:19,940 The safety team just didn't know what to do with him. 470 00:39:20,024 --> 00:39:22,193 -[man] Stephen… -[Stephen wails] 471 00:39:23,235 --> 00:39:24,904 [Kristof] He almost died there. 472 00:39:24,987 --> 00:39:26,989 [man] Release… release him. 473 00:39:27,490 --> 00:39:28,741 We should go back. 474 00:39:29,992 --> 00:39:32,912 [Kristof] He didn't want anyone else going through that. 475 00:39:33,412 --> 00:39:36,665 So he started to be interested in being a safety diver. 476 00:39:38,167 --> 00:39:40,586 Steve had the best background for the job 477 00:39:40,669 --> 00:39:44,840 because the only other person that can do a safety for a free diver 478 00:39:44,924 --> 00:39:46,175 is a free diver. 479 00:39:46,258 --> 00:39:48,761 As a scuba diver, you can't be a safety for a free diver 480 00:39:48,844 --> 00:39:51,597 because they go up slowly to decompress. 481 00:39:52,348 --> 00:39:55,726 So if something happens, you have to react fast. 482 00:39:56,602 --> 00:40:01,107 [Stephen] 99% of all free diving incidents happen within the last ten meters. 483 00:40:01,690 --> 00:40:05,361 If there is an issue, we close the airways so they can't swallow water, 484 00:40:05,444 --> 00:40:06,946 and we take them to the surface. 485 00:40:07,029 --> 00:40:09,073 [woman] Please get out of the way for the safety. 486 00:40:09,156 --> 00:40:11,492 [Kristof] He worked very hard to make a name for himself. 487 00:40:11,575 --> 00:40:13,786 No. I'm doing it myself. So, uh… 488 00:40:14,870 --> 00:40:16,705 [Kristof] After a while, Steve got the chance 489 00:40:16,789 --> 00:40:19,375 to be on the safety team in Kalamata, 490 00:40:19,458 --> 00:40:22,211 which was his first international big competition. 491 00:40:24,630 --> 00:40:26,382 [man] That's all good. Put it down. 492 00:40:30,386 --> 00:40:32,596 [Adam] Natalia's son, Alexey Molchanov, 493 00:40:32,680 --> 00:40:35,349 was the men's world record holder at the time. 494 00:40:35,850 --> 00:40:38,018 He was going for the deepest dive ever. 495 00:40:39,478 --> 00:40:41,355 And his mom is watching. 496 00:40:41,439 --> 00:40:43,732 [tense music playing] 497 00:40:59,999 --> 00:41:01,333 Safety, keep your distances. 498 00:41:01,417 --> 00:41:02,293 Eighty. 499 00:41:05,546 --> 00:41:07,465 [Kristof] Steve was the first safety. 500 00:41:10,092 --> 00:41:12,136 That means he has to dive the deepest. 501 00:41:16,599 --> 00:41:18,601 [tense music continues] 502 00:41:28,611 --> 00:41:31,363 [Adam] Stephen kicked down to 30 meters. 503 00:41:36,368 --> 00:41:37,786 [beeping] 504 00:41:39,205 --> 00:41:40,956 [Kristof] You have to know, as a safety diver, 505 00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:43,709 you take in a mouthful of air, you go down, 506 00:41:44,460 --> 00:41:47,046 and if everything goes right, you just swim up together. 507 00:41:47,546 --> 00:41:50,299 You're never there for longer than a minute. 508 00:41:53,928 --> 00:41:57,598 But Steve was already waiting at 30 meters for quite some time, 509 00:41:58,140 --> 00:42:00,059 -so he's running out of air. -[beeping] 510 00:42:02,436 --> 00:42:03,812 Come on, Alexey. 511 00:42:05,564 --> 00:42:07,233 3'30, it's a very long dive time. 512 00:42:09,318 --> 00:42:11,278 Andrea, you go down as well. 513 00:42:12,196 --> 00:42:14,198 [tense music continues] 514 00:42:18,619 --> 00:42:19,828 -Trouble. -Yeah. 515 00:42:19,912 --> 00:42:20,829 [woman] Trouble? 516 00:42:22,957 --> 00:42:25,167 [Kristof] Steve started to have contractions. 517 00:42:26,001 --> 00:42:28,045 He's seconds away from the blackout. 518 00:42:30,464 --> 00:42:31,882 [beeping] 519 00:42:32,466 --> 00:42:36,095 But then he saw Alexey get into trouble around 40 meters. 520 00:42:36,679 --> 00:42:37,930 Split-second decisions. 521 00:42:38,514 --> 00:42:40,975 Save Alexey or save himself. 522 00:42:53,946 --> 00:42:55,531 [man speaking Russian] 523 00:42:56,615 --> 00:42:58,617 [Alexey groaning] 524 00:42:59,577 --> 00:43:01,912 [Stephen, in English] Breathe, Alexey. Breathe. 525 00:43:02,705 --> 00:43:04,540 -[man] Breathe, Alex. -[Stephen] Breathe for me. 526 00:43:04,623 --> 00:43:06,292 [Alexey coughs] 527 00:43:06,375 --> 00:43:09,086 -[Stephen] Breathe. -Breathe, mate. You're good. 528 00:43:09,169 --> 00:43:11,171 [oxygen hissing] 529 00:43:15,801 --> 00:43:18,053 [Alexey, in English] I had severe lung damage. 530 00:43:20,931 --> 00:43:22,891 My mama told me that Steve saved me. 531 00:43:26,228 --> 00:43:30,274 I am very grateful for his… this selfless act. 532 00:43:30,357 --> 00:43:35,154 [laughing] And that was, like, my first meet with Stephen, this accident. 533 00:43:35,237 --> 00:43:37,239 [somber music playing] 534 00:43:39,116 --> 00:43:42,077 [Kristof] From that moment on, he was really the star of the competition. 535 00:43:42,161 --> 00:43:43,704 Everybody knew him. 536 00:43:43,787 --> 00:43:45,914 Stephen Keenan. [laughing] 537 00:43:45,998 --> 00:43:47,708 Who saved the world champion. 538 00:43:50,753 --> 00:43:54,006 One of the things about that story was how amazing the safety diver was. 539 00:43:55,174 --> 00:43:58,969 At that time, it was the deepest blackout safety dive in competition. 540 00:44:01,347 --> 00:44:02,890 I consider that an act of heroism. 541 00:44:03,807 --> 00:44:05,684 To save Natalia's son, 542 00:44:05,768 --> 00:44:12,191 Stephen took his job as a safety diver so seriously that he put himself at risk. 543 00:44:17,196 --> 00:44:18,280 [woman] Right. 544 00:44:18,739 --> 00:44:20,407 [in Italian] We're on day three of training. 545 00:44:20,491 --> 00:44:23,702 I'm really pleased, because I've already beaten my personal best. 546 00:44:23,786 --> 00:44:25,204 I've done 88 meters. 547 00:44:25,287 --> 00:44:27,331 -[speaking Italian] -[laughing] 548 00:44:27,956 --> 00:44:31,251 [Francesca, in English] Alessia was inching closer and closer 549 00:44:31,335 --> 00:44:34,505 to that magical number, 101 meters. 550 00:44:35,881 --> 00:44:37,716 But she wasn't the only one. 551 00:44:40,928 --> 00:44:42,096 [man] Excellent dive. 552 00:44:44,139 --> 00:44:48,727 [Francesca] Hanako Hirose of Japan was a strong challenger. 553 00:44:51,230 --> 00:44:53,941 [in Japanese] Can I have a message regarding the competition? 554 00:44:54,024 --> 00:44:56,652 This time, I'm going to get the world record. 555 00:44:56,735 --> 00:44:57,903 [man] Thank you. 556 00:45:01,281 --> 00:45:04,785 [Adam, in English] Hanako has an innate connection to the sea. 557 00:45:06,328 --> 00:45:08,706 It's something she was just born to do. 558 00:45:12,292 --> 00:45:14,753 [Hanako, in Japanese] When I dive, 559 00:45:14,837 --> 00:45:20,134 I often imagine myself swimming… 560 00:45:21,260 --> 00:45:23,095 like a whale or dolphin. 561 00:45:27,975 --> 00:45:30,644 [Francesca, in English] Hanako was going deeper and deeper and deeper. 562 00:45:30,728 --> 00:45:32,896 And Alessia had to respond. 563 00:45:36,859 --> 00:45:38,944 [in Italian] Alessia Zecchini was extraordinary. 564 00:45:40,195 --> 00:45:43,323 Her dive was extremely elegant in every respect. 565 00:45:46,368 --> 00:45:51,123 [William, in English] We had this amazing rivalry between Hanako and Alessia. 566 00:45:52,541 --> 00:45:56,170 Hanako very consistently moved through the depths. 567 00:45:57,421 --> 00:45:59,798 [Francesca] Alessia would come back at her. 568 00:45:59,882 --> 00:46:01,175 [William] Eighty-nine meters. 569 00:46:01,759 --> 00:46:02,718 [Francesca] Ninety. 570 00:46:03,677 --> 00:46:05,429 -[cheering] -[William] Ninety-two. 571 00:46:06,013 --> 00:46:07,055 [Francesca] Ninety-three. 572 00:46:07,765 --> 00:46:10,184 [woman] Tell us how deep your dive was. 573 00:46:10,267 --> 00:46:13,896 [in English] Ninety-four meters. 574 00:46:13,979 --> 00:46:16,148 -[squeals and laughs] -[man chuckling] 575 00:46:16,231 --> 00:46:18,358 -[in Italian] How many meters? -Ninety-four. 576 00:46:18,442 --> 00:46:22,154 Wow. With Zecchini, we're not gonna stop. 577 00:46:22,237 --> 00:46:24,239 -[cork pops] -[cheering] 578 00:46:24,823 --> 00:46:28,494 [William] There had been this dominance by Natalia Molchanova for so many years. 579 00:46:28,577 --> 00:46:31,997 And then suddenly, these women were so close. 580 00:46:35,125 --> 00:46:38,796 But when you push close to a limit, trying to set world records, 581 00:46:40,005 --> 00:46:42,090 there's a lot that can go wrong. 582 00:46:45,511 --> 00:46:49,014 She is considered to be one of the greatest athletes ever 583 00:46:49,097 --> 00:46:52,100 in what is one of the world's deadliest extreme sports. 584 00:46:52,184 --> 00:46:53,560 Free diving. 585 00:46:53,644 --> 00:46:58,190 Natalia Molchanova went for a dive on Sunday, and she simply vanished. 586 00:47:00,234 --> 00:47:04,613 [Francesca] Natalia Molchanova disappeared off the coast of Spain. 587 00:47:05,489 --> 00:47:07,449 They didn't recover her body. 588 00:47:08,492 --> 00:47:12,704 [man] Molchanova's son, Alexey, a record-breaking free diver himself, 589 00:47:12,788 --> 00:47:14,331 told the New York Times, 590 00:47:14,414 --> 00:47:18,293 "It seems she'll stay in the sea. I think she would like that." 591 00:47:18,377 --> 00:47:20,379 [somber music playing] 592 00:47:21,839 --> 00:47:24,049 [Alessia, in Italian] It was all too surreal. 593 00:47:26,385 --> 00:47:27,761 I was shocked. 594 00:47:29,805 --> 00:47:32,808 It was really sad because she was so strong. 595 00:47:35,477 --> 00:47:38,021 [woman, in English] We lost Natalia Molchanova. 596 00:47:38,105 --> 00:47:40,899 And in recognition of her great accomplishments, 597 00:47:40,983 --> 00:47:44,278 please join me for a one-minute breath-hold. 598 00:47:45,237 --> 00:47:47,281 [Adam] It shocked the free diving world. 599 00:47:47,865 --> 00:47:50,868 They realized that they're more at risk than they thought. 600 00:47:50,951 --> 00:47:53,996 Because if it can happen to Natalia, the greatest ever, 601 00:47:54,079 --> 00:47:55,914 it can happen to anybody at any time. 602 00:48:03,964 --> 00:48:05,924 [Alessia, in Italian] After Natalia's accident, 603 00:48:06,717 --> 00:48:10,721 I began to realize that it could be dangerous. 604 00:48:24,026 --> 00:48:26,194 I was going deeper and deeper. 605 00:48:31,450 --> 00:48:35,746 It's black. It's dark. You feel locked inside. 606 00:48:39,458 --> 00:48:42,419 You can see things that don't exist. 607 00:48:46,632 --> 00:48:48,675 I was too scared. 608 00:48:49,927 --> 00:48:52,304 I wanted to turn around and go back. 609 00:49:05,734 --> 00:49:07,027 [oxygen hissing] 610 00:49:07,110 --> 00:49:08,570 I didn't feel safe. 611 00:49:13,575 --> 00:49:15,577 [hopeful music playing] 612 00:49:19,873 --> 00:49:21,375 [Peter, in English] Stephen had an idea 613 00:49:21,458 --> 00:49:25,045 that he could use his own experience as a safety diver 614 00:49:25,128 --> 00:49:28,048 to open this center for free diving. 615 00:49:28,131 --> 00:49:29,383 [cheerful music playing] 616 00:49:32,052 --> 00:49:34,972 Stephen and his friends saved some money. 617 00:49:36,181 --> 00:49:39,601 They built a premises on the seafront in Dahab. 618 00:49:40,811 --> 00:49:44,272 Here, uh… in front of my free diving shop. 619 00:49:46,024 --> 00:49:47,734 This is where I'm working. 620 00:49:48,902 --> 00:49:50,612 [Peter] He was very proud to tell me 621 00:49:50,696 --> 00:49:54,449 he was finally making a success of his business, 622 00:49:55,492 --> 00:49:57,077 following his dream. 623 00:50:00,080 --> 00:50:01,540 [Kristof] I was so proud of him. 624 00:50:02,082 --> 00:50:04,543 He finally had this purpose. 625 00:50:04,626 --> 00:50:06,420 Hey, Steve. Hi! 626 00:50:06,503 --> 00:50:07,921 [Stephen] Hello, hello! 627 00:50:09,089 --> 00:50:12,092 It's a nice, chilled evening in Dahab free divers. 628 00:50:13,552 --> 00:50:16,596 When I first met him, I was super intimidated. 629 00:50:16,680 --> 00:50:19,516 He had this massive reputation as the best safety diver. 630 00:50:19,599 --> 00:50:23,103 I heard about the famous rescue he did for Alexey. [laughs] 631 00:50:25,605 --> 00:50:28,025 I was looking for a place to teach free diving. 632 00:50:28,608 --> 00:50:31,194 They asked if I wanted to join the team. I said, "Yes, sure." 633 00:50:33,363 --> 00:50:35,741 I was in charge of social media. 634 00:50:35,824 --> 00:50:39,828 And Steve's not the type to put himself in the limelight. 635 00:50:39,911 --> 00:50:41,455 But for me, it was obvious. 636 00:50:41,538 --> 00:50:44,499 "Steve, come on! Like, you're super famous in the community." 637 00:50:44,583 --> 00:50:46,626 "You have to start promoting yourself." 638 00:50:50,380 --> 00:50:53,133 Because Stephen knew all the free divers, 639 00:50:53,216 --> 00:50:55,260 they were able to invite all these big names, 640 00:50:55,343 --> 00:50:57,387 like Alexey Molchanov, to give workshops. 641 00:50:57,471 --> 00:51:00,098 And this attracted a lot of free divers. 642 00:51:00,182 --> 00:51:02,142 The school became super famous. 643 00:51:06,104 --> 00:51:10,067 [man] For you, what is success in life? 644 00:51:10,817 --> 00:51:15,155 I suppose success is fulfilling your aspirations, goals, dreams. 645 00:51:16,198 --> 00:51:19,659 I'm currently living in Egypt, where I run a free diving center. 646 00:51:19,743 --> 00:51:22,913 I guess I'm happy in that respect. I like what I do. 647 00:51:22,996 --> 00:51:26,166 Other parts of my life are not so successful, I guess. 648 00:51:26,666 --> 00:51:32,422 Unfortunately, I'm a 38-year-old man, and I don't have any kids. 649 00:51:32,506 --> 00:51:37,135 I suppose that's, people say, something that I haven't quite fulfilled. 650 00:51:37,219 --> 00:51:39,221 [wistful music playing] 651 00:51:41,973 --> 00:51:44,351 He had some relationships in Dahab, but, uh, 652 00:51:45,852 --> 00:51:46,978 nothing that lasted. 653 00:51:48,980 --> 00:51:51,108 He would've liked to, like, fall in love 654 00:51:51,191 --> 00:51:53,902 and have a long-term relationship and kids. 655 00:51:55,487 --> 00:51:57,656 Part of him was missing that side. 656 00:51:58,698 --> 00:52:01,284 He needed to meet a super special person. 657 00:52:07,457 --> 00:52:11,586 [man] Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me, 658 00:52:11,670 --> 00:52:13,672 and for all the listeners of the show too. 659 00:52:13,755 --> 00:52:16,216 [Alessia, in English] Thank you. It's a major pleasure. 660 00:52:16,299 --> 00:52:18,802 [man] Do you think you push too hard sometimes 661 00:52:18,885 --> 00:52:20,720 in search of records? 662 00:52:20,804 --> 00:52:24,975 I guess that's, uh, maybe more typical of younger athletes. 663 00:52:25,058 --> 00:52:26,560 [Alessia] Yeah, maybe, sure. 664 00:52:30,188 --> 00:52:35,360 [Enzo, in Italian] We had no idea she was after the world record. 665 00:52:37,070 --> 00:52:40,198 She doesn't like to worry us, so she wouldn't tell us. 666 00:52:42,242 --> 00:52:45,162 [man, in English] What would you like to accomplish in the next few months? 667 00:52:46,371 --> 00:52:48,039 [Alessia] I would like to go deeper. 668 00:52:50,167 --> 00:52:52,169 I would like to do the world record. 669 00:52:52,752 --> 00:52:54,045 [laughs] That's my goal. 670 00:52:54,838 --> 00:52:56,631 [man] When is your next competition? 671 00:52:56,715 --> 00:52:57,757 [Alessia] Vertical Blue. 672 00:52:58,800 --> 00:53:00,051 [dramatic music playing] 673 00:53:06,975 --> 00:53:09,811 [Francesca] Welcome to Vertical Blue in the Bahamas. 674 00:53:12,439 --> 00:53:15,859 We have 42 competitors from all around the globe 675 00:53:15,942 --> 00:53:19,487 who are announcing ten different national records. 676 00:53:21,489 --> 00:53:24,701 [Francesca] Vertical Blue is like the Wimbledon of free diving. 677 00:53:24,784 --> 00:53:28,371 It's gonna be a beautiful day. Lot of great dives going on today. 678 00:53:28,455 --> 00:53:31,333 [Francesca] Only the best of the best are invited. 679 00:53:31,416 --> 00:53:33,668 Alessia Zecchini, and I'm from Italy. 680 00:53:36,087 --> 00:53:37,923 [Francesca] Within the competition, 681 00:53:38,006 --> 00:53:40,842 there is an exceptional team of medics and safeties. 682 00:53:42,677 --> 00:53:44,471 Stephen, want to introduce the safety team? 683 00:53:44,554 --> 00:53:48,350 I wanna make sure there's a good dynamic between the safety team and athletes. 684 00:53:48,433 --> 00:53:49,851 That's vitally important to me. 685 00:53:50,727 --> 00:53:53,480 Stephen was working as a chief of safety in Vertical Blue. 686 00:53:53,563 --> 00:53:55,982 Being responsible for the overall safety of this, 687 00:53:56,066 --> 00:53:58,276 like, one of the biggest free diving events in the world. 688 00:53:58,360 --> 00:54:02,364 There will be two safeties always to meet you, a deep and shallow. 689 00:54:02,447 --> 00:54:03,823 The deep will meet you 690 00:54:03,907 --> 00:54:07,827 between anywhere from 20 to 40 meters, depending on the dive. 691 00:54:07,911 --> 00:54:10,997 [William] We take safety very seriously at Vertical Blue. 692 00:54:12,249 --> 00:54:14,709 One of the only incidents, 693 00:54:14,793 --> 00:54:17,545 fatal incidents that's happened in competition, 694 00:54:17,629 --> 00:54:21,424 was a death here of an American athlete, Nick Mevoli. 695 00:54:23,218 --> 00:54:25,095 [Nick] Never take a dive for granted. 696 00:54:25,887 --> 00:54:27,180 You don't know what… 697 00:54:27,264 --> 00:54:29,599 you don't know what dive is gonna be your last. 698 00:54:33,270 --> 00:54:38,692 [Francesca] Nick had a long history of pushing a little bit too hard. 699 00:54:39,567 --> 00:54:42,529 And things catastrophically went wrong. 700 00:54:44,030 --> 00:54:46,241 Nick had a lung squeeze. 701 00:54:47,242 --> 00:54:48,827 [William] With the lung squeeze, 702 00:54:48,910 --> 00:54:51,538 the blood vessels inside your lungs can burst 703 00:54:51,621 --> 00:54:54,291 and leak blood into your air spaces. 704 00:54:57,502 --> 00:55:01,256 [Francesca] We're talking about tissue that is torn 705 00:55:01,339 --> 00:55:02,966 and then scarred. 706 00:55:04,384 --> 00:55:09,514 If you are consistently injuring yourself, it's cumulative. 707 00:55:11,349 --> 00:55:14,894 [William] And ultimately, that led to Nick getting a very bad squeeze. 708 00:55:15,687 --> 00:55:19,107 And we… we couldn't save him. 709 00:55:23,069 --> 00:55:26,531 [Stephen] Of course, we have our medics who will be giving a pep talk as well. 710 00:55:27,866 --> 00:55:30,035 Okay, I'll keep this pretty quick. 711 00:55:30,118 --> 00:55:33,538 If we think someone might be in danger, we have the authority 712 00:55:33,621 --> 00:55:35,832 to tell a diver that they cannot dive any longer. 713 00:55:36,416 --> 00:55:38,752 I always say to them, "I want you to go home." 714 00:55:38,835 --> 00:55:41,796 "To be able to get on that plane and go home to your family." 715 00:55:41,880 --> 00:55:44,632 And secondly, I don't ever want them to be 716 00:55:44,716 --> 00:55:47,344 that diver that's on oxygen at the age of 40 717 00:55:47,427 --> 00:55:49,804 because they've messed up their lungs so terribly. 718 00:55:50,638 --> 00:55:52,640 [pensive music playing] 719 00:55:54,392 --> 00:55:57,187 [William] In competition, we have to retrieve a tag 720 00:55:57,270 --> 00:56:00,774 attached to the bottom plate at target depth as a proof. 721 00:56:01,608 --> 00:56:03,735 [Francesca] She's reaching for her tag. 722 00:56:04,569 --> 00:56:07,322 [William] A white card is a 100% valid performance. 723 00:56:07,405 --> 00:56:08,740 -[man] Yeah! -Yes! 724 00:56:12,369 --> 00:56:15,205 [Alexey] As soon as somebody helps you, or you lose control, 725 00:56:15,288 --> 00:56:17,707 even on the surface, that's disqualification. 726 00:56:17,791 --> 00:56:18,750 It's a red card. 727 00:56:20,293 --> 00:56:24,255 [William] Over two weeks of competition, the athletes get six attempts each. 728 00:56:25,548 --> 00:56:27,050 [Alexey] It's very simple. 729 00:56:27,550 --> 00:56:29,177 The deepest dive wins. 730 00:56:33,181 --> 00:56:34,599 …is coming to meet you. 731 00:56:34,682 --> 00:56:35,558 Okay. 732 00:56:39,479 --> 00:56:42,023 [Alessia, in English] I want to do so much. Yeah. 733 00:56:43,191 --> 00:56:48,113 A world record, that's the main point. So, I mean, it's super important for me. 734 00:56:51,699 --> 00:56:55,995 [Francesca] It was clear that Alessia was after the world record. 735 00:56:57,747 --> 00:57:00,583 So she was going to push her limits. 736 00:57:04,295 --> 00:57:08,216 Unfortunately, Alessia had a problem with the dark. 737 00:57:09,843 --> 00:57:15,098 And Vertical Blue is unique in that it's this collapsed cave. 738 00:57:19,436 --> 00:57:21,604 It's like going into space. 739 00:57:21,688 --> 00:57:23,690 [slow heartbeat] 740 00:57:30,738 --> 00:57:32,073 [Francesca] She's on her way back. 741 00:57:33,032 --> 00:57:36,661 We've got Stephen Keenan, who's our deep primary safety, 742 00:57:36,744 --> 00:57:38,163 and he's going to meet her. 743 00:57:45,545 --> 00:57:47,464 [tense music playing] 744 00:57:47,547 --> 00:57:49,549 [man, in Italian] Well done, Alexia. 745 00:57:49,632 --> 00:57:51,301 -[woman] Breathe. -[man] Breathe. 746 00:57:51,801 --> 00:57:54,220 -Breathe, breathe, breathe. -[woman] Breathe. Breathe. 747 00:57:54,304 --> 00:57:56,473 [Alessia groans] -[team] Breathe, breathe. 748 00:57:56,556 --> 00:57:59,017 -[in English] I'm okay. -[man speaking Italian] 749 00:57:59,100 --> 00:58:00,310 [in English] I'm okay. 750 00:58:01,102 --> 00:58:02,812 [Francesca] The judges are conferring. 751 00:58:04,189 --> 00:58:06,274 I'm sorry, Alessia, red card. 752 00:58:16,618 --> 00:58:18,036 [man 1, in Italian] Breathe. 753 00:58:18,119 --> 00:58:19,913 [man 2, in English] Grab her. Keep her up. 754 00:58:20,622 --> 00:58:22,415 [Francesca] Support her. Just support her. 755 00:58:22,499 --> 00:58:24,000 [man 2] Just support her head. 756 00:58:25,335 --> 00:58:27,337 [man speaking Italian] 757 00:58:44,187 --> 00:58:46,606 -[man 1, in Italian] Breathe. -[in English] Somebody hold her. 758 00:58:46,689 --> 00:58:48,441 Hold her for me. Up. 759 00:58:52,445 --> 00:58:53,947 Up. You okay? 760 00:58:54,489 --> 00:58:55,949 Come on. Hold her. 761 00:58:58,284 --> 00:58:59,661 [coughs] 762 00:59:09,546 --> 00:59:11,548 [oxygen hissing] 763 00:59:14,008 --> 00:59:16,135 [Alexey] She was really pushing hard, 764 00:59:16,636 --> 00:59:18,930 experiencing blackouts several times. 765 00:59:19,556 --> 00:59:23,560 A lot of free divers were not approving her way. 766 00:59:30,692 --> 00:59:33,987 [Leigh] I'm checking Alessia for potential lung squeeze. 767 00:59:34,988 --> 00:59:37,323 So I did ask her, "Are you coughing up any blood?" 768 00:59:37,407 --> 00:59:39,576 And, um… and she said no. 769 00:59:39,659 --> 00:59:40,994 And, um… 770 00:59:42,203 --> 00:59:44,455 And, in all honesty, I kinda… I didn't believe her. 771 00:59:44,539 --> 00:59:45,540 [Francesca] Listen. 772 00:59:46,624 --> 00:59:48,042 You can't do that again. 773 00:59:48,876 --> 00:59:49,919 Not here. 774 00:59:50,545 --> 00:59:52,338 I want you to succeed. 775 00:59:53,131 --> 00:59:55,300 That is why I want you to plan. 776 00:59:56,301 --> 00:59:59,137 You-- you gotta quell the horses. 777 01:00:04,976 --> 01:00:07,520 [Leigh] We told her she couldn't dive for a day or two. 778 01:00:08,688 --> 01:00:11,399 She gets mad, and she goes and swims across the bay. 779 01:00:11,482 --> 01:00:13,610 And being that she just blacked out, 780 01:00:13,693 --> 01:00:16,404 we don't want her to have an issue, you know, a mile away. 781 01:00:19,115 --> 01:00:19,991 [woman] Alessia! 782 01:00:21,659 --> 01:00:25,121 [William] She didn't win too many friends with that behavior. 783 01:00:26,372 --> 01:00:27,999 Some people saw it as… 784 01:00:30,209 --> 01:00:32,378 yeah, the wrong kind of reaction. 785 01:00:35,590 --> 01:00:39,052 [Leigh] Alessia had a very high temper, and, boy, you knew it. 786 01:00:42,180 --> 01:00:44,098 [in Italian] Why the hell are you getting angry? 787 01:00:44,182 --> 01:00:46,142 You had a bad start. Chill out. 788 01:00:48,478 --> 01:00:50,146 [Francesca, in English] There were hecklers 789 01:00:50,229 --> 01:00:55,026 who said she didn't look like she could muscle up these depths. 790 01:00:55,860 --> 01:01:00,114 The Internet trolls were robust in their criticism. 791 01:01:02,158 --> 01:01:03,868 [in Italian] Hello. I'm making this video 792 01:01:03,951 --> 01:01:06,287 to reassure everyone who cares about me that I'm fine. 793 01:01:06,371 --> 01:01:11,125 And to disprove the rumors on Facebook that I passed out at 20 meters. 794 01:01:11,959 --> 01:01:14,337 I had no problems with a lung squeeze. 795 01:01:15,046 --> 01:01:20,301 The dive overall went well, and I ask you not to write lies. 796 01:01:22,428 --> 01:01:25,431 [in English] Keep the head in a neutral position, not letting it hyperextend. 797 01:01:25,515 --> 01:01:29,310 The tongue and liquids and fluids can go down into the larynx 798 01:01:29,394 --> 01:01:30,937 and cause more of a spasm. 799 01:01:31,020 --> 01:01:35,149 [Leigh] We would have a meeting every morning to go over every single diver. 800 01:01:35,233 --> 01:01:37,735 [Stephen] She was out for a while but remembered nothing. 801 01:01:37,819 --> 01:01:40,780 She just said she came up and there she was. Okay? 802 01:01:41,781 --> 01:01:45,535 [Leigh] Stephen was so good at knowing the ones that could be in danger. 803 01:01:45,618 --> 01:01:48,246 He studied them, and he knew their weaknesses. 804 01:01:48,746 --> 01:01:51,791 He would say, "We gotta watch out for this one." 805 01:01:51,874 --> 01:01:54,502 And he was dead-on every time. 806 01:01:54,585 --> 01:01:55,712 Kind of freakishly so. 807 01:01:57,755 --> 01:02:00,508 With Alessia, it was driving Stephen absolutely crazy, 808 01:02:00,591 --> 01:02:04,887 because he was seeing all of these little things that she was doing wrong, 809 01:02:04,971 --> 01:02:08,641 and that it was probably contributing to her blackouts. 810 01:02:10,101 --> 01:02:13,604 And so he started training with Alessia during the competition break. 811 01:02:13,688 --> 01:02:14,772 [peaceful music playing] 812 01:03:11,287 --> 01:03:12,705 [in Italian] Breathe. 813 01:03:13,623 --> 01:03:14,499 Breathe. 814 01:03:29,305 --> 01:03:30,515 [man speaks Italian] 815 01:03:30,598 --> 01:03:32,558 -[in English] Are you okay? -I am okay. 816 01:03:34,060 --> 01:03:35,019 [man] Yes! 817 01:03:35,728 --> 01:03:36,979 [laughing] 818 01:03:41,150 --> 01:03:43,277 [Alessia, in Italian] He inspired trust straightaway. 819 01:03:44,278 --> 01:03:48,199 I saw in him the only one who could coach me. 820 01:03:50,284 --> 01:03:52,286 [calm, uplifting music playing] 821 01:04:02,088 --> 01:04:03,714 [man speaking Italian] 822 01:04:06,259 --> 01:04:07,593 [in English] Are you okay? 823 01:04:08,719 --> 01:04:11,514 [Alessia, in Italian] The thing that struck me most were his eyes. 824 01:04:12,515 --> 01:04:16,435 They were blue, so blue, like the sea. 825 01:04:19,564 --> 01:04:21,023 His gaze was enough. 826 01:04:21,107 --> 01:04:24,068 Before diving, we would look at each other. 827 01:04:25,111 --> 01:04:27,029 And this gave me strength. 828 01:04:28,865 --> 01:04:33,494 Feeling his presence made you feel safe in the darkness. 829 01:04:38,916 --> 01:04:40,918 [woman, in English] We see a special relationship 830 01:04:41,002 --> 01:04:43,504 between the safety diver and the athlete. 831 01:04:43,588 --> 01:04:48,301 For example, Alessia asks about you in every deep dive she does. 832 01:04:48,843 --> 01:04:53,806 It's massively important, because, um… free diving is a very psychological sport. 833 01:04:53,890 --> 01:04:57,435 Okay? There's many little facets that can affect a dive. 834 01:04:58,019 --> 01:05:02,523 And if somebody, when diving, wants to feel secure, 835 01:05:03,357 --> 01:05:06,903 they're very happy if they're diving with someone they're familiar with, 836 01:05:06,986 --> 01:05:10,072 and they know that the safety diver is familiar with them. 837 01:05:10,156 --> 01:05:13,868 How they dive. The speed they go at. The habits they might have. 838 01:05:13,951 --> 01:05:15,494 Things to look out for that we know. 839 01:05:20,791 --> 01:05:25,212 [Homar, in Italian] There was a relationship that went beyond free diving. 840 01:05:27,590 --> 01:05:29,759 With some people, you have an understanding. 841 01:05:29,842 --> 01:05:32,470 You don't need words or time. 842 01:05:35,097 --> 01:05:36,641 [laughter] 843 01:05:36,724 --> 01:05:39,310 I saw this connection. 844 01:05:40,019 --> 01:05:43,439 [in English] The first thing you did-- And then you went, like, "No…" 845 01:05:43,522 --> 01:05:45,024 [laughter] 846 01:05:46,943 --> 01:05:47,777 [man] Okay. 847 01:05:49,028 --> 01:05:50,029 Oh my God. 848 01:05:51,781 --> 01:05:53,240 [chuckles] 849 01:05:53,324 --> 01:05:54,241 [man] Yes? 850 01:05:54,784 --> 01:05:55,701 Brava! 851 01:05:56,202 --> 01:05:57,036 Brava! 852 01:05:57,119 --> 01:05:59,121 [birdsong] 853 01:06:05,252 --> 01:06:06,545 [suspenseful music playing] 854 01:06:15,096 --> 01:06:21,310 [woman, in Italian] Your biggest opponents for breaking the record are the Japanese. 855 01:06:21,978 --> 01:06:23,354 Do you fear them? 856 01:06:23,437 --> 01:06:25,773 I certainly fear my Japanese opponents. 857 01:06:28,734 --> 01:06:32,279 [Hanako, in Japanese] One hundred meters. It was a big number. 858 01:06:33,447 --> 01:06:35,533 A Japanese record. 859 01:06:36,242 --> 01:06:37,660 And I was nervous. 860 01:06:38,160 --> 01:06:44,834 And Stephen came and he grabbed me by the shoulders in a very serious way. 861 01:06:44,917 --> 01:06:45,793 [chuckles] 862 01:06:45,876 --> 01:06:50,381 I remember him saying, "It's going to be okay. I've got you." 863 01:06:50,464 --> 01:06:51,924 [Stephen, in English] Second safety. 864 01:06:52,008 --> 01:06:54,135 [Francesca] She's with both the safeties now. 865 01:06:54,218 --> 01:06:57,304 -[Stephen] She's slowing down a bit. -[Francesca] She's slowing down a little. 866 01:06:57,388 --> 01:06:59,390 [suspenseful music playing] 867 01:07:08,399 --> 01:07:09,608 Here she comes. 868 01:07:10,776 --> 01:07:13,029 -Got it. -[woman shouts in Japanese] 869 01:07:13,112 --> 01:07:15,114 [woman speaking Japanese] 870 01:07:18,576 --> 01:07:20,619 -[in English] Okay… -I'm okay. 871 01:07:20,703 --> 01:07:22,371 -[Francesca] Oh, yeah! -[cheering] 872 01:07:23,205 --> 01:07:26,000 And the judges say… white card! 873 01:07:26,083 --> 01:07:28,085 [cheering] 874 01:07:31,547 --> 01:07:34,550 Hanako Hirose of Japan, 875 01:07:34,633 --> 01:07:39,555 first female after Natalia to make 100 meters in competition. 876 01:07:39,638 --> 01:07:41,849 This is a huge dive! 877 01:07:43,267 --> 01:07:46,437 [Francesca] When Hanako made the 100-meter mark, 878 01:07:46,937 --> 01:07:50,441 that set a fire underneath Alessia. 879 01:07:50,524 --> 01:07:52,526 [energetic music playing] 880 01:08:04,538 --> 01:08:06,916 [Francesca] Stephen Keenan is going to meet her. 881 01:08:10,002 --> 01:08:12,630 -[man] Forty meters. -[Francesca] Here she comes. 882 01:08:13,464 --> 01:08:16,258 -[man] First safety. -[Francesca] She's with the first safety. 883 01:08:16,884 --> 01:08:19,178 Now, hope for Alessia. 884 01:08:28,479 --> 01:08:30,606 [man, in Italian] Breathe. 885 01:08:30,689 --> 01:08:32,566 [Stephen, in English] Come on! 886 01:08:33,526 --> 01:08:34,693 I'm okay. 887 01:08:34,777 --> 01:08:36,195 [applause] 888 01:08:36,278 --> 01:08:37,863 -[man] Yeah! Yeah! -[cheering] 889 01:08:43,035 --> 01:08:45,246 [Francesca] Stay up! Stay up! Stay up! 890 01:08:46,288 --> 01:08:47,998 -Stay up! -[team speaking Italian] 891 01:08:48,833 --> 01:08:52,086 -[man] She has the tag. -[Francesca] She has the tag! 892 01:08:52,169 --> 01:08:53,712 [cheering] 893 01:08:54,421 --> 01:08:56,173 Stay up, Alessia, stay up. 894 01:08:56,799 --> 01:08:58,926 And the judges say 895 01:08:59,593 --> 01:09:01,095 white card! 896 01:09:01,178 --> 01:09:03,180 [cheering and whooping] 897 01:09:08,727 --> 01:09:12,189 It was amazing. It was just… We were just, like, flabbergasted. 898 01:09:12,273 --> 01:09:13,107 Oh my gosh. 899 01:09:13,190 --> 01:09:16,277 She blacked out three days in a row, then she gets a world record. 900 01:09:16,360 --> 01:09:19,029 What the hell? You know? [laughs] 901 01:09:20,489 --> 01:09:23,659 We were so happy for her, 'cause that's all she wanted. 902 01:09:25,369 --> 01:09:28,038 [Alessia, in Italian] It was wonderful to hug Steve after the dive. 903 01:09:28,581 --> 01:09:30,207 It was simply fantastic. 904 01:09:31,041 --> 01:09:33,085 Today, I'm so happy. 905 01:09:33,169 --> 01:09:35,671 I achieved the dream I've had for so long. 906 01:09:41,677 --> 01:09:44,388 [in English] Right, cheers to Alessia. 907 01:09:44,471 --> 01:09:46,473 [cheering and whistling] 908 01:09:49,101 --> 01:09:51,312 -[in Italian] Hi. -Hi, Ale. Are you happy? 909 01:09:51,395 --> 01:09:52,438 So happy! 910 01:09:52,521 --> 01:09:55,357 -You were great, you know that? -Yes, I know. 911 01:09:55,441 --> 01:09:57,067 What are you thinking now? 912 01:09:57,151 --> 01:09:59,862 I'm really happy. I kick ass at Vertical Blue. 913 01:10:01,197 --> 01:10:05,367 Once you start touching… 914 01:10:07,369 --> 01:10:08,871 world records, 915 01:10:09,830 --> 01:10:11,707 you raise the bar so high. 916 01:10:12,750 --> 01:10:17,421 That's when things get worrying. 917 01:10:17,504 --> 01:10:19,506 [somber music playing] 918 01:10:31,602 --> 01:10:33,771 [William, in English] The athletes had to email myself 919 01:10:33,854 --> 01:10:35,731 with their announcement for the final day 920 01:10:35,814 --> 01:10:38,692 to decide how deep they wanted to attempt to go. 921 01:10:42,154 --> 01:10:44,406 [Alexey] In free diving, we announce secretly. 922 01:10:45,366 --> 01:10:49,245 The idea behind it is that we should announce safely what-- what we can do. 923 01:10:49,328 --> 01:10:52,539 There's a little bit of strategy and chess. 924 01:10:52,623 --> 01:10:57,336 If you announce too much, maybe you're not able to perform it. 925 01:10:58,128 --> 01:11:00,089 But if you announce too little, 926 01:11:00,172 --> 01:11:03,425 maybe someone else walks away with the title. 927 01:11:06,345 --> 01:11:08,764 [Alessia, in English] It's super hard to choose. 928 01:11:08,847 --> 01:11:12,309 If I do a mistake, it will be bad. I will have a red card. 929 01:11:15,562 --> 01:11:16,397 It's… 930 01:11:18,274 --> 01:11:19,692 [sighs] It's hard. 931 01:11:23,779 --> 01:11:26,740 -[radio playing hip-hop music] -[car horn blares] 932 01:11:30,494 --> 01:11:32,538 [woman, in Italian] You've talked about limits. 933 01:11:32,621 --> 01:11:34,707 What is Alessia Zecchini's limit? 934 01:11:35,666 --> 01:11:37,876 I don't think a limit exists. 935 01:11:37,960 --> 01:11:41,005 It doesn't exist until I choose to quit. 936 01:11:41,547 --> 01:11:43,632 [suspenseful music playing] 937 01:11:43,716 --> 01:11:45,843 [Francesca, in English] Welcome back to Vertical Blue. 938 01:11:45,926 --> 01:11:50,681 Today could be the most historic day in free diving. 939 01:11:52,933 --> 01:11:56,437 We're here with our host and athlete, William Trubridge. 940 01:11:56,520 --> 01:12:00,399 Talk to me about what you're seeing from the women especially. 941 01:12:00,482 --> 01:12:01,317 [William] Just epic. 942 01:12:01,400 --> 01:12:04,653 I don't think we've seen anything like that in the history of the event. 943 01:12:04,737 --> 01:12:06,780 It seems they have still got more in the tank, 944 01:12:06,864 --> 01:12:10,409 so I think we can probably expect some more fireworks from them as well. 945 01:12:10,492 --> 01:12:13,537 [Francesca] We have even more exciting diving coming up. 946 01:12:13,620 --> 01:12:16,332 Another world record attempt announced. 947 01:12:17,207 --> 01:12:21,378 [woman] Five, four, three, two, one. 948 01:12:32,639 --> 01:12:35,809 [Francesca] And Hanako Hirose is trying to make history 949 01:12:35,893 --> 01:12:39,730 to take the world record, deepen it by one meter to 103. 950 01:12:41,648 --> 01:12:43,901 She's already down below 90 meters. 951 01:12:45,402 --> 01:12:46,862 -And… -[woman] 100 meters. 952 01:12:46,945 --> 01:12:48,572 [Francesca] One hundred meters! 953 01:12:48,655 --> 01:12:50,282 -[woman] Touchdown. -[Francesca] Touchdown! 954 01:12:50,366 --> 01:12:51,283 [cheering] 955 01:12:51,367 --> 01:12:55,871 Stand for Hanako Hirose of Japan, 103 meters! 956 01:12:55,954 --> 01:12:57,623 Come on, Hanako. 957 01:12:57,706 --> 01:12:59,583 Make that big swim back up. 958 01:13:02,002 --> 01:13:04,046 -[woman] Two forty-five. -[Francesca] Two forty-five. 959 01:13:04,671 --> 01:13:05,881 Diver in sight, 960 01:13:05,964 --> 01:13:08,008 Hanako Hirose of Japan, 961 01:13:08,092 --> 01:13:11,095 hoping for 103 and a world record. 962 01:13:17,434 --> 01:13:18,519 I'm okay. 963 01:13:18,602 --> 01:13:20,270 [cheering] 964 01:13:20,354 --> 01:13:22,856 [man] Yeah! Good luck! 965 01:13:22,940 --> 01:13:24,817 [triumphant music playing] 966 01:13:24,900 --> 01:13:27,486 -[Francesca] Whoa! She has the tag. -[man] Yeah! 967 01:13:29,780 --> 01:13:31,615 [Francesca] White card! 968 01:13:39,456 --> 01:13:41,375 Hanako was clean as a whistle. 969 01:13:41,458 --> 01:13:45,462 [in Italian] World record, 103 clean. Fantastic. 970 01:13:46,505 --> 01:13:49,508 [Francesca, in English] Whoever comes up first, and they do it clean, 971 01:13:50,217 --> 01:13:53,262 is just adding pressure for the person who's gonna go next. 972 01:14:06,525 --> 01:14:11,447 [William] To then go into the water and attempt a record very soon after that 973 01:14:12,114 --> 01:14:13,949 is a big ask. 974 01:14:14,450 --> 01:14:17,202 [low tone pulsing] 975 01:14:19,663 --> 01:14:20,581 [woman] Ten seconds. 976 01:14:24,501 --> 01:14:28,881 Five, four, three, two, one. 977 01:14:35,095 --> 01:14:37,181 Alessia Zecchini, Italy. 978 01:14:37,264 --> 01:14:40,559 104 meters world record attempt. 979 01:14:40,642 --> 01:14:42,352 [cheering and applause] 980 01:14:44,229 --> 01:14:47,774 [Enzo, in Italian] On streaming, you can see the whole event. 981 01:14:47,858 --> 01:14:50,194 [Francesca, in English] Final record attempt of the day. 982 01:14:56,617 --> 01:14:58,869 [Enzo, in Italian] As you see her go down… 983 01:15:01,038 --> 01:15:03,707 you get a flood of worries. 984 01:15:05,501 --> 01:15:07,503 [quiet music playing] 985 01:15:17,262 --> 01:15:18,931 [woman, in English] Someone check the sonar. 986 01:15:19,973 --> 01:15:22,059 [Francesca] Surface safety, check the sonar, please. 987 01:15:22,142 --> 01:15:24,603 [woman] Yeah, I have no signal. Can someone check? 988 01:15:25,437 --> 01:15:27,523 -[Francesca] And Alessia-- -[woman] Should be at 80… 989 01:15:28,232 --> 01:15:29,525 I have no signal. 990 01:15:30,817 --> 01:15:34,029 [Enzo, in Italian] The sonar allows them to see 991 01:15:34,112 --> 01:15:35,614 whether they've stopped. 992 01:15:35,697 --> 01:15:37,115 [Francesca, in English] …forty-five… 993 01:15:40,202 --> 01:15:42,412 We're having a little interference in our sonar. 994 01:15:43,455 --> 01:15:45,999 -[woman] Two minutes. -[Francesca] Two minutes has passed. 995 01:15:46,083 --> 01:15:47,125 [Stephen] Three forty-five… 996 01:15:47,209 --> 01:15:49,211 -[woman] Eighty. -[Francesca] We're not sure. 997 01:15:49,294 --> 01:15:51,046 -We're not sure. -[woman] She's okay. 998 01:15:52,089 --> 01:15:53,549 [foreboding music playing] 999 01:16:14,945 --> 01:16:16,738 -[Francesca] Dive time 2'15. -[woman 1] 2'15. 1000 01:16:16,822 --> 01:16:19,324 -[woman 2] Seventy meters. -[Francesca] Two-one-five. 1001 01:16:20,576 --> 01:16:23,704 [Enzo, in Italian] We should see her coming out by now. 1002 01:16:41,263 --> 01:16:42,889 [woman 2, in English] First safety. 1003 01:16:44,141 --> 01:16:46,143 [slow heartbeat] 1004 01:17:01,783 --> 01:17:03,744 [heartbeat slowing] 1005 01:17:20,802 --> 01:17:22,804 [heartbeat quickening] 1006 01:17:25,057 --> 01:17:26,600 [emotive music playing] 1007 01:17:43,825 --> 01:17:46,870 -[man] Here's Alessia. -[man 2, in Italian] Breathe, breathe! 1008 01:17:46,953 --> 01:17:48,955 [speaking Italian] 1009 01:17:51,500 --> 01:17:52,542 I'm okay. 1010 01:17:52,626 --> 01:17:54,544 [cheering] 1011 01:17:54,628 --> 01:17:56,630 [triumphant music playing] 1012 01:17:58,256 --> 01:17:59,549 [Enzo, in Italian] There she is! 1013 01:17:59,633 --> 01:18:03,220 She's no longer swallowed by endless darkness. 1014 01:18:06,264 --> 01:18:08,934 [Francesca, in English] The judges are conferring. She has a tag. 1015 01:18:09,017 --> 01:18:11,395 We don't know what's going on, but she has a tag. 1016 01:18:15,065 --> 01:18:16,149 [cheering] 1017 01:18:16,233 --> 01:18:17,651 [whistling] 1018 01:18:18,527 --> 01:18:21,321 World record, 104! 1019 01:18:22,364 --> 01:18:26,868 She just showed up and kind of blew everybody out of the water. 1020 01:18:26,952 --> 01:18:28,954 [all cheering] 1021 01:18:30,997 --> 01:18:32,916 She set the world record, 1022 01:18:32,999 --> 01:18:36,586 and I think she silenced a lot of those naysayers. 1023 01:18:37,587 --> 01:18:41,633 It was clear that Alessia was a force of nature, 1024 01:18:41,717 --> 01:18:43,301 and she was here to stay. 1025 01:18:45,470 --> 01:18:49,766 [in Italian] I got the new world record of 104 meters, and I'm so happy. 1026 01:18:49,850 --> 01:18:53,145 Thanks to all. Fantastic! That's enough for now. Ciao! 1027 01:18:54,604 --> 01:18:56,231 [in English] And in first place, 1028 01:18:57,482 --> 01:19:00,318 with an incredible dive today of 104 meters, 1029 01:19:00,402 --> 01:19:02,279 and a new world record, 1030 01:19:03,363 --> 01:19:05,240 Alessia Zecchini! 1031 01:19:05,323 --> 01:19:06,742 [cheering and applause] 1032 01:19:09,327 --> 01:19:11,663 [Leigh] Alessia gave Stephen the biggest hug. 1033 01:19:12,956 --> 01:19:14,666 He really did believe in her. 1034 01:19:15,167 --> 01:19:19,212 There was just something about her that he knew that she could do it. 1035 01:19:20,005 --> 01:19:21,965 He didn't doubt her for a second. 1036 01:19:29,556 --> 01:19:32,350 [in Italian] Give a round of applause for Alessia Zecchini! 1037 01:19:33,393 --> 01:19:34,686 -Hi, Alessia. -Hi. 1038 01:19:35,312 --> 01:19:37,063 -Welcome. -Thank you. 1039 01:19:37,147 --> 01:19:41,026 Beautiful, talented, young. You've got it all. 1040 01:19:41,109 --> 01:19:45,071 So, nine world championship gold medals, four silver, 1041 01:19:45,155 --> 01:19:46,698 one bronze. 1042 01:19:46,782 --> 01:19:52,746 The ultimate record, the most famous one, the one you are proudest of, 1043 01:19:52,829 --> 01:19:56,708 so much so, you put it around your neck, 1044 01:19:56,792 --> 01:19:59,252 the 104-meter world record. 1045 01:19:59,336 --> 01:20:00,337 [applause] 1046 01:20:01,004 --> 01:20:03,423 Any other ambitions, aims, goals? 1047 01:20:04,925 --> 01:20:08,762 [Francesca, in English] Even after becoming the deepest woman in the world, 1048 01:20:08,845 --> 01:20:11,431 Natalia was still her inspiration. 1049 01:20:12,057 --> 01:20:15,852 Alessia was motivated by all the achievements 1050 01:20:15,936 --> 01:20:18,438 that Natalia had garnered in her lifetime. 1051 01:20:19,231 --> 01:20:21,066 And there was one thing left. 1052 01:20:22,275 --> 01:20:24,319 The Arch in Dahab. 1053 01:20:25,570 --> 01:20:27,948 People thought she couldn't do it. 1054 01:20:28,740 --> 01:20:32,160 And she wanted to prove, both to herself and to everyone else, 1055 01:20:32,244 --> 01:20:33,161 that she could. 1056 01:20:34,663 --> 01:20:35,831 As fate would have it, 1057 01:20:35,914 --> 01:20:38,834 Stephen wanted her to train with him in Dahab. 1058 01:20:39,584 --> 01:20:42,295 And there was definitely an amazing connection 1059 01:20:42,379 --> 01:20:44,965 between Alessia and Stephen. 1060 01:20:45,048 --> 01:20:47,050 [uplifting music playing] 1061 01:21:23,587 --> 01:21:26,715 [in Italian] Stephen told us he was going to pick Alessia up at the airport. 1062 01:21:26,798 --> 01:21:28,091 "Look what I made." 1063 01:21:28,174 --> 01:21:29,759 He pulled out 1064 01:21:29,843 --> 01:21:34,347 an airport sign with "Alessia" written on it. 1065 01:21:35,765 --> 01:21:39,060 He was really excited, really happy. 1066 01:21:39,644 --> 01:21:43,023 He wanted everything to be perfect for Alessia's arrival. 1067 01:21:47,402 --> 01:21:49,571 I haven't told you where we are yet. 1068 01:21:49,654 --> 01:21:51,197 I'm in Dahab for training. 1069 01:21:51,281 --> 01:21:53,867 It's beautiful here. 1070 01:21:54,868 --> 01:21:56,411 Okay, everything is ready. 1071 01:21:56,494 --> 01:21:59,372 We're here at the diving center, packing everything. 1072 01:21:59,456 --> 01:22:03,668 Then we'll head to the sea. I'll show you the Blue Hole. 1073 01:22:05,211 --> 01:22:08,131 [Alessia] He seemed more excited than I was. 1074 01:22:08,798 --> 01:22:11,426 And I found that quite endearing. 1075 01:22:11,927 --> 01:22:13,303 [man, in English] That's prickish. 1076 01:22:13,929 --> 01:22:17,557 [Alessia, in Italian] But we were both a bit awkward. 1077 01:22:20,518 --> 01:22:24,230 [Lily, in English] It was the first time that we would see somebody cross the Arch, 1078 01:22:24,314 --> 01:22:27,275 and being involved in the dive was super exciting. 1079 01:22:28,652 --> 01:22:30,320 We're gonna go training together. 1080 01:22:30,403 --> 01:22:34,366 I was like, "Oh my God. I'm gonna train with Alessia. Dear Jesus!" 1081 01:22:34,449 --> 01:22:37,327 And she shows up with a ham sandwich and a can of Coke. 1082 01:22:37,410 --> 01:22:39,829 I was like, "Oh my God. Okay, I love her already." 1083 01:22:42,332 --> 01:22:43,750 Ooh! 1084 01:22:43,833 --> 01:22:45,502 Okay, Alessia. On your feet. 1085 01:22:46,670 --> 01:22:49,005 [man] I knew she'd just set a world record. 1086 01:22:50,799 --> 01:22:54,094 She matched the world record one day in training. 1087 01:22:55,387 --> 01:22:57,013 It was inspiring 1088 01:22:57,097 --> 01:23:00,892 to see someone do these depths that I'd kinda only dreamed of doing. 1089 01:23:00,976 --> 01:23:02,352 And you could tell, like… 1090 01:23:02,435 --> 01:23:05,522 Like, even Steve, he'd be like, "Ah, she makes it look too easy." 1091 01:23:06,022 --> 01:23:09,985 You know? But it was… That was, like, that was her. [laughs] 1092 01:23:12,737 --> 01:23:15,448 [Lily] Alessia and Steve were together all the time. 1093 01:23:21,329 --> 01:23:24,499 He was coaching her and preparing her for the Arch, 1094 01:23:25,917 --> 01:23:28,962 sitting down every evening after her training for weeks, 1095 01:23:29,045 --> 01:23:32,799 going through everything, telling her what she should do next. 1096 01:23:35,218 --> 01:23:37,762 It's another evening in Dahab free divers. 1097 01:23:38,513 --> 01:23:40,849 [Lily] Then they were together every evening. 1098 01:23:41,975 --> 01:23:43,143 [Stephen] Say hello. 1099 01:23:44,310 --> 01:23:45,687 Hello! 1100 01:23:46,187 --> 01:23:47,480 Say hello, guys. 1101 01:23:47,564 --> 01:23:48,732 [all] Hey. 1102 01:23:50,900 --> 01:23:52,527 [Lily] It was an amazing summer. 1103 01:23:55,530 --> 01:23:57,532 They had a very special connection. 1104 01:23:59,743 --> 01:24:01,870 It was just a really good match. [laughs] 1105 01:24:01,953 --> 01:24:05,832 Simon! Belated happy birthday, bud. Hope you had a great one. 1106 01:24:06,332 --> 01:24:08,501 Sorry it's only me to say happy birthday. 1107 01:24:08,585 --> 01:24:10,962 Or actually, no, there's somebody else. Wait. 1108 01:24:11,046 --> 01:24:12,297 Happy birthday! 1109 01:24:12,380 --> 01:24:13,798 [Stephen laughs] 1110 01:24:18,428 --> 01:24:20,764 [Alessia, in Italian] He adored being in the desert. 1111 01:24:23,808 --> 01:24:26,770 The happiness we shared was amazing. 1112 01:24:32,942 --> 01:24:36,529 [Lily, in English] We thought, "Okay, this could be something pretty special." 1113 01:24:43,870 --> 01:24:46,664 We are gonna win the world championships. 1114 01:24:48,166 --> 01:24:50,085 We are gonna make world records. 1115 01:24:51,628 --> 01:24:53,713 And this amazing lady 1116 01:24:54,923 --> 01:24:57,300 is going to win the world championships. 1117 01:24:58,885 --> 01:24:59,719 True that. 1118 01:25:06,434 --> 01:25:10,271 [Homar, in Italian] We were all together that evening. It was our last night. 1119 01:25:10,355 --> 01:25:14,442 And I remember he turned to Alessia and said, 1120 01:25:14,526 --> 01:25:18,988 "You'll be the first woman to do the Arch after Natalia Molchanova." 1121 01:25:20,448 --> 01:25:22,492 We told Stephen, 1122 01:25:22,575 --> 01:25:24,285 "Look after Alessia." 1123 01:25:26,204 --> 01:25:29,082 And obviously, as a safety, he told me… 1124 01:25:34,170 --> 01:25:35,463 "Leave it with me." 1125 01:25:41,886 --> 01:25:43,888 [bells clanking] 1126 01:25:48,476 --> 01:25:54,149 [in Italian] We're discussing the dive before getting in the water. 1127 01:25:54,232 --> 01:25:58,027 This is my coach, Steve, and these are some other athletes. 1128 01:25:58,111 --> 01:26:00,113 We'll get in the water soon. 1129 01:26:01,239 --> 01:26:02,949 I'm preparing all the gear. 1130 01:26:03,950 --> 01:26:05,869 We're ready to get in the water. 1131 01:26:07,453 --> 01:26:09,998 [Kristina, in English] Steve asked me to take photos of this dive. 1132 01:26:10,582 --> 01:26:14,169 I took pictures doing briefing for all safety divers. 1133 01:26:15,461 --> 01:26:17,422 Steve really went through each detail. 1134 01:26:17,505 --> 01:26:19,799 Everybody knew exactly what they were supposed to do. 1135 01:26:23,344 --> 01:26:28,308 [Lily] The plan was Alessia would dive 52 meters, pulling herself on the rope, 1136 01:26:28,391 --> 01:26:33,271 and then, entering the Arch, swim horizontally for 30 meters. 1137 01:26:34,522 --> 01:26:37,275 As she arrived on the other side of the Arch, 1138 01:26:37,358 --> 01:26:40,028 the safety line should be there in the middle. 1139 01:26:40,111 --> 01:26:43,156 Steve would be there at the end of the line waiting for her. 1140 01:26:47,827 --> 01:26:50,288 Natalia crossed the Arch with a monofin. 1141 01:26:51,289 --> 01:26:54,834 [Nathan] What Alessia prepared for was a dive without the monofin, 1142 01:26:54,918 --> 01:26:57,003 which is the hardest way you can do it. 1143 01:26:57,921 --> 01:27:00,006 [Lily] Maybe she wanted to do it that way 1144 01:27:00,089 --> 01:27:02,467 to be better than the best free diver ever. 1145 01:27:04,344 --> 01:27:05,553 [rhythmic beeping] 1146 01:27:05,637 --> 01:27:06,930 Everything was timed. 1147 01:27:07,555 --> 01:27:09,182 They had made practice runs 1148 01:27:09,265 --> 01:27:13,728 to know how long exactly it takes her to go down to 52 meters, 1149 01:27:14,437 --> 01:27:17,607 how long it takes for her to swim horizontally for 30 meters. 1150 01:27:20,235 --> 01:27:22,028 And we had a countdown, 1151 01:27:22,612 --> 01:27:26,282 so we would make sure that Steve would be already there before she arrived. 1152 01:27:26,366 --> 01:27:27,659 [beeping continues] 1153 01:27:29,786 --> 01:27:32,538 [Kristina] I go down with the other two technical divers 1154 01:27:32,622 --> 01:27:34,707 with a camera to do the filming. 1155 01:27:48,263 --> 01:27:51,224 [Nathan] After she goes down, my job was to hold the rope, 1156 01:27:51,975 --> 01:27:54,310 wait until we felt her hit the bottom, 1157 01:27:54,852 --> 01:27:56,479 go down a few meters, look. 1158 01:27:56,562 --> 01:27:58,856 If she wasn't coming back up, come up and we're done. 1159 01:28:00,775 --> 01:28:02,277 After she swam through the Arch, 1160 01:28:02,360 --> 01:28:07,282 she was relying on finding the rope on the other side to pull herself back up. 1161 01:28:11,077 --> 01:28:16,165 [man] Five, four, three, two, one, zero. 1162 01:28:32,682 --> 01:28:34,559 [Nathan] We watched Alessia go down. 1163 01:28:37,895 --> 01:28:41,274 I'm feeling the rope, so I can tell when she reaches the bottom. 1164 01:28:50,408 --> 01:28:52,410 [rapid heartbeat] 1165 01:29:15,641 --> 01:29:17,643 [faint, slow heartbeat] 1166 01:29:38,873 --> 01:29:42,668 [Nathan] After we felt her let go of the rope, we'd give an okay sign 1167 01:29:42,752 --> 01:29:46,297 to tell the other safety divers that she entered the Arch. 1168 01:29:47,256 --> 01:29:50,009 That should've triggered Steve to go down. 1169 01:29:52,387 --> 01:29:53,429 [Lily] Ten seconds. 1170 01:29:53,513 --> 01:29:55,223 [rapid heartbeat] 1171 01:29:56,182 --> 01:29:58,601 [Lily] I started to give the countdown to Steve. 1172 01:29:58,684 --> 01:30:01,687 [Lily] Five, four, three. 1173 01:30:02,438 --> 01:30:04,690 He asked me for ten more seconds. 1174 01:30:04,774 --> 01:30:06,359 [beeping] 1175 01:30:06,442 --> 01:30:09,821 I just didn't really understand why, because, um… 1176 01:30:09,904 --> 01:30:12,156 so far, everything had been going according to plan. 1177 01:30:12,240 --> 01:30:15,868 So maybe the heart was going a bit too fast for his liking, 1178 01:30:15,952 --> 01:30:20,248 so he wanted to take a few more seconds to be really ready. 1179 01:30:20,331 --> 01:30:23,000 I really don't know, because you can't discuss with him, 1180 01:30:23,084 --> 01:30:25,753 because he's preparing for his dive, so he's not gonna talk. 1181 01:30:27,463 --> 01:30:30,341 It took him a little bit extra to give me the signal. 1182 01:30:33,428 --> 01:30:35,430 [steady heartbeat] 1183 01:30:47,525 --> 01:30:49,527 [somber music playing] 1184 01:30:55,116 --> 01:30:57,118 [heartbeat slowing] 1185 01:31:23,603 --> 01:31:28,399 [Kristina] Alessia is coming out of the Arch, but Steve is not there. 1186 01:31:29,400 --> 01:31:30,943 She doesn't see the rope. 1187 01:31:32,153 --> 01:31:34,113 She is swimming the wrong direction. 1188 01:31:36,949 --> 01:31:40,119 She didn't realize that she was already out. 1189 01:31:40,912 --> 01:31:42,914 [rapid heartbeat] 1190 01:32:03,726 --> 01:32:05,728 [Lily] I have, uh, one hand on the rope. 1191 01:32:05,811 --> 01:32:10,483 I'm waiting for the feel of the pull to say that they're starting to come up. 1192 01:32:11,859 --> 01:32:13,361 The pull is not coming. 1193 01:32:14,779 --> 01:32:15,780 I start to worry. 1194 01:32:15,863 --> 01:32:17,865 [beeping] 1195 01:32:18,824 --> 01:32:21,327 Maybe she was swimming a little bit slower. 1196 01:32:21,410 --> 01:32:23,037 Let's wait a little bit longer. 1197 01:32:27,667 --> 01:32:29,752 [Nathan] They should've been coming up 1198 01:32:29,835 --> 01:32:32,547 by the time we swam across to the other side. 1199 01:32:32,630 --> 01:32:34,549 I knew at that point something was wrong. 1200 01:32:37,343 --> 01:32:38,719 [Lily] Now it's too long. 1201 01:32:39,845 --> 01:32:41,305 Something is not right. 1202 01:32:42,473 --> 01:32:44,100 [rapid heartbeat] 1203 01:32:51,566 --> 01:32:53,985 [Kristina] Alessia needs to go up immediately. 1204 01:32:55,403 --> 01:32:58,823 She didn't know that she's in completely the wrong place. 1205 01:33:09,709 --> 01:33:13,087 In one moment, Steve left the rope super quickly. 1206 01:33:15,381 --> 01:33:17,383 [very fast heartbeat] 1207 01:33:29,270 --> 01:33:31,439 As a scuba diver, I cannot do shit. 1208 01:33:32,231 --> 01:33:33,482 I was very far. 1209 01:33:35,151 --> 01:33:36,527 I was just screaming. 1210 01:33:38,404 --> 01:33:41,324 [Lily] I could see all the way to the end of the line. 1211 01:33:42,158 --> 01:33:43,284 There was no one. 1212 01:33:44,410 --> 01:33:45,953 [fast heartbeat continues] 1213 01:33:48,289 --> 01:33:49,874 [Nathan] We just can't see them. 1214 01:33:53,461 --> 01:33:56,672 Think fast. Maybe the water current took them. 1215 01:33:57,882 --> 01:34:00,426 We would need to search a much bigger area. 1216 01:34:03,929 --> 01:34:07,933 Thirty meters away, there was loads and loads of tourists snorkeling. 1217 01:34:08,017 --> 01:34:09,226 [man laughing] 1218 01:34:14,190 --> 01:34:15,191 [inhales] 1219 01:34:17,401 --> 01:34:22,281 We're looking for someone amongst a mess of people that can't properly swim. 1220 01:34:31,707 --> 01:34:33,709 [Lily] Everywhere I look, they're not there. 1221 01:34:35,294 --> 01:34:38,339 I decided to come up and see if I could see them on the surface. 1222 01:34:39,590 --> 01:34:40,883 [speaks French] 1223 01:34:52,353 --> 01:34:54,230 [Lily] There was no explanation. 1224 01:34:59,151 --> 01:35:01,779 [Kristina] I was swimming as fast as I could. 1225 01:35:05,241 --> 01:35:08,744 I need to see if they are alive. 1226 01:35:13,207 --> 01:35:15,334 -[high-pitched ringing] -[Alessia gasping] 1227 01:35:19,672 --> 01:35:21,424 [sounds fade] 1228 01:35:27,888 --> 01:35:29,265 [sighs] 1229 01:35:44,947 --> 01:35:49,994 [Alessia, in Italian] The first meters, everything seemed normal. 1230 01:35:54,331 --> 01:35:55,833 Until I reached the Arch. 1231 01:35:57,460 --> 01:36:01,589 I remember while I was swimming, I felt it was a bit strenuous. 1232 01:36:18,397 --> 01:36:19,815 There was a problem. 1233 01:36:22,818 --> 01:36:25,112 Steve wasn't there, but neither was the rope. 1234 01:36:32,745 --> 01:36:35,664 I just tried to follow the reef, 1235 01:36:35,748 --> 01:36:39,668 trying to see where the rope was. 1236 01:36:40,377 --> 01:36:43,547 But I realized I couldn't find it. 1237 01:36:45,758 --> 01:36:47,218 I'd made a mistake. 1238 01:37:04,193 --> 01:37:06,320 I suddenly saw Steve in front of me. 1239 01:37:07,029 --> 01:37:08,781 I remember he took my hands. 1240 01:37:10,449 --> 01:37:13,118 And he swam, bringing me to the surface. 1241 01:37:17,540 --> 01:37:20,042 -[high-pitched ringing] -[Alessia gasping] 1242 01:37:27,508 --> 01:37:30,469 I don't remember the first seconds when I surfaced. 1243 01:37:30,553 --> 01:37:32,388 I only remember, after a while, 1244 01:37:32,471 --> 01:37:34,849 looking around and not understanding a thing. 1245 01:37:41,647 --> 01:37:44,316 [Kristina, in English] Steve's face was in the water. 1246 01:37:44,817 --> 01:37:48,779 And I started screaming on her, like, "Turn him face up!" 1247 01:37:49,989 --> 01:37:53,075 But I didn't realize that she had blacked out. 1248 01:37:54,785 --> 01:37:58,497 And when I started screaming, because I really screamed a lot, 1249 01:37:58,581 --> 01:38:01,709 she basically woke up, and she started acting immediately. 1250 01:38:02,543 --> 01:38:03,586 Um… 1251 01:38:04,420 --> 01:38:06,839 [in Italian] Maybe I could have done more. 1252 01:38:07,882 --> 01:38:11,093 If I had been more conscious, I don't know. 1253 01:38:17,766 --> 01:38:20,686 [Nathan, in English] If you are on your own, and you start blacking out, 1254 01:38:20,769 --> 01:38:22,396 you have to be on your back. 1255 01:38:22,479 --> 01:38:24,148 If you're not on your back, you're done. 1256 01:38:25,274 --> 01:38:29,320 Steve probably took his last seconds of consciousness 1257 01:38:29,403 --> 01:38:32,364 to make sure she was in a position that she'd survive in 1258 01:38:32,448 --> 01:38:34,700 at the expense of ending up face down. 1259 01:38:36,368 --> 01:38:38,370 [poignant music playing] 1260 01:38:40,414 --> 01:38:43,542 [in Italian] The worst thing is we couldn't do anything. 1261 01:38:43,626 --> 01:38:46,128 We couldn't save him. 1262 01:38:46,211 --> 01:38:49,381 He rescued me, but I couldn't rescue him. 1263 01:38:49,465 --> 01:38:52,968 [mournful music playing] 1264 01:39:03,687 --> 01:39:06,565 He was a hero, and he showed it till the end. 1265 01:39:13,572 --> 01:39:16,075 [Kristina, in English] You can see in the last photo, 1266 01:39:16,158 --> 01:39:18,369 he lost his life to save hers. 1267 01:39:28,003 --> 01:39:29,672 I was diving the lighthouse. 1268 01:39:30,172 --> 01:39:31,840 Like, actually, over there. 1269 01:39:32,341 --> 01:39:35,010 I finish my dive, I… 1270 01:39:36,053 --> 01:39:37,471 I look at my phone, 1271 01:39:37,554 --> 01:39:41,016 even, like, with my suit on, like, I… 1272 01:39:41,100 --> 01:39:43,185 My phone, I look at my phone, like, "What?" 1273 01:39:43,268 --> 01:39:45,187 Like, there are 50 missed calls. 1274 01:39:45,270 --> 01:39:46,939 And I received a phone call. 1275 01:39:48,357 --> 01:39:50,025 Something happened to Steve. 1276 01:39:51,235 --> 01:39:52,069 And… 1277 01:39:54,530 --> 01:39:56,615 It… They couldn't bring him back. 1278 01:39:57,741 --> 01:40:00,536 My first reaction was, "Shit. I wasn't there." 1279 01:40:01,245 --> 01:40:03,831 "I could've saved him if I would have been there." 1280 01:40:03,914 --> 01:40:05,582 [sighs] 1281 01:40:07,167 --> 01:40:08,627 [sobbing] 1282 01:40:16,844 --> 01:40:19,763 [Francesca] He was choosing her over himself. 1283 01:40:20,472 --> 01:40:24,518 I'm very clear that he knew that someone was gonna die that day, 1284 01:40:24,601 --> 01:40:27,438 and he wasn't gonna let it be her. [sniffles] 1285 01:40:34,653 --> 01:40:36,363 [in Italian] I would give my life. 1286 01:40:42,786 --> 01:40:44,246 Mine instead of his. 1287 01:40:56,008 --> 01:40:59,219 [in English] He wouldn't… he wouldn't have forgiven himself 1288 01:40:59,303 --> 01:41:01,597 if he wouldn't have saved her, you know? 1289 01:41:27,956 --> 01:41:32,169 [Francesca] Everybody, we'll just dive until we feel 1290 01:41:33,045 --> 01:41:34,880 we want to release our flowers 1291 01:41:34,963 --> 01:41:38,383 and give thanks for such a wonderful human in our lives, 1292 01:41:39,384 --> 01:41:41,261 sending all the good energy 1293 01:41:41,887 --> 01:41:44,056 that Stephen gave to all of us. 1294 01:41:45,599 --> 01:41:47,601 [poignant music playing] 1295 01:41:49,061 --> 01:41:54,691 [Peter] Everybody who loved Stephen did a big underwater vigil. 1296 01:42:03,075 --> 01:42:09,123 They all held their breath for 39 seconds to represent each year of his life. 1297 01:42:26,473 --> 01:42:28,475 There was never ever a death 1298 01:42:28,559 --> 01:42:32,479 which moved the place the way that this… this one did. 1299 01:42:32,563 --> 01:42:35,774 It was hundreds of people. I mean, everybody. 1300 01:42:36,984 --> 01:42:41,238 How? How can one person touch so many? 1301 01:42:42,573 --> 01:42:45,325 He must've been a pretty special person, right? 1302 01:42:45,409 --> 01:42:46,618 [laughs] 1303 01:42:51,665 --> 01:42:53,625 Part of grief is kind of selfish. 1304 01:42:53,709 --> 01:42:57,963 And the selfish part of grief… makes me miss him. I miss him. 1305 01:42:59,006 --> 01:43:03,010 I miss him not coming home. I miss him in my life. 1306 01:43:05,679 --> 01:43:08,599 But I am much consoled by how he lived. 1307 01:43:09,725 --> 01:43:11,476 He was pretty courageous. 1308 01:43:12,936 --> 01:43:15,397 The Masai plains. 1309 01:43:16,565 --> 01:43:18,108 We're completely alone. 1310 01:43:19,193 --> 01:43:20,485 Jebel Toubkal. 1311 01:43:20,569 --> 01:43:22,196 Nice mountain in North Africa. 1312 01:43:22,279 --> 01:43:24,865 [hopeful music playing] 1313 01:43:27,618 --> 01:43:30,704 [Peter] Stephen was searching for something all of his life. 1314 01:43:34,499 --> 01:43:36,627 I did it! [laughs] 1315 01:43:36,710 --> 01:43:39,630 [Peter] He had found something he loved 1316 01:43:40,297 --> 01:43:43,050 and somebody who shared his dream. 1317 01:43:46,094 --> 01:43:49,723 Alessia and the sea. They were all he needed. 1318 01:43:54,811 --> 01:43:57,272 [Alessia, in Italian] He will always be with me. 1319 01:43:59,733 --> 01:44:01,360 I remember his eyes… 1320 01:44:03,445 --> 01:44:06,073 and try to remember all the things he'd tell me. 1321 01:44:10,494 --> 01:44:12,788 To live, to be happy. 1322 01:44:16,625 --> 01:44:18,001 To believe in myself. 1323 01:44:21,797 --> 01:44:23,507 [in English] Enjoy yourself to the max! 1324 01:44:24,591 --> 01:44:25,592 Okay? Kiss. 1325 01:44:29,012 --> 01:44:31,515 [Alessia, in Italian] I try and remember his hugs. 1326 01:44:33,517 --> 01:44:38,689 He's the person who made me realize what it really means to hug someone. 1327 01:44:41,900 --> 01:44:45,320 From the hug, you'd understand how deeply he cared about you 1328 01:44:45,404 --> 01:44:48,240 and all the feelings you could share together. 1329 01:44:53,537 --> 01:44:54,913 He gave his life 1330 01:44:56,290 --> 01:44:57,332 for Alessia. 1331 01:45:00,085 --> 01:45:02,587 A pain like this stays with you. 1332 01:45:05,007 --> 01:45:06,883 You go on. 1333 01:45:08,385 --> 01:45:12,097 But that wound is there, and it won't heal. 1334 01:45:19,146 --> 01:45:21,064 [Alessia] He will always be in my heart. 1335 01:45:25,402 --> 01:45:27,029 He's going to be with me forever, 1336 01:45:27,112 --> 01:45:30,991 because I want him to stay with me for the rest of my life. 1337 01:45:37,331 --> 01:45:38,790 [music fades] 1338 01:45:40,876 --> 01:45:42,878 [water rippling gently] 1339 01:46:01,605 --> 01:46:03,607 [emotional music playing]