On the dark night of 6 to 7 August 1986, a tragedy shook the coast of Brittany. Five volunteer rescuers from the Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer (SNSM) Aber Wrac’h station set off on a mission aboard the lifeboat Capitaine de Corvette Cogniet. Their objective was to rescue the pleasure boat Loch-o-Motiv, which had run aground near Ile du Bec.
The rescue operation turned tragic when, in the early hours of the morning, the lifeboat was found broken up on the rocks off Kerguen, with no survivors among the rescuers on board.
This documentary delves into the depths of this tragedy and also explores its long-term repercussions.
Mixing testimonies from the loved ones of the lost rescuers with current interviews with today’s lifeguards at sea, it pays tribute to these men’s legacy of courage and dedication. It also celebrates the advances that have transformed a dangerous profession into a safer one, while highlighting the continuing challenges faced by the ocean’s guardians.