Between storms and towering waves, in sunshine or in the dead of night: Sea rescuers from the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) risk their lives for people in distress on the high seas! The documentary series "The Sea Rescuers" accompanies these heroes of the seas up close during their spectacular missions on the North and Baltic Seas.
DirectorNicola Goethe
WriterNicola Goethe
Sunken freighter: Eight men overboard
Feb 12, 2025
Mayday! Two freighters collide in the German Bight; one sinks immediately into the North Sea. For the sea rescuers, the race against time begins: It's a matter of life and death. The sea rescue cruiser "Hermann Marwede" is the first on the scene. Amidst darkness and a churning sea, the crew coordinates the large-scale search for survivors. The conditions are extreme: ten-degree Celsius water, heavy waves, and treacherous currents. Eight sailors fighting for their lives. Will the sea rescuers find them in time in the waves?
Sunken freighter: Rescue in the storm?
Feb 12, 2025
Twenty-four ships, eight helicopters, and two airplanes are now involved in the dramatic search for the sailors adrift at sea. Every minute counts as the search area in the turbulent North Sea continues to expand due to wind, drift, and currents. The rescuers are battling not only the unforgiving elements but also another danger: drifting wreckage could damage their ships and endanger the rescuers themselves. With each passing hour, the tension mounts – until finally, a sailor is found.
Force 7 wind: Survival in the storm
Feb 12, 2025
A sailor is caught in a severe storm and is reached just in time by two sea rescue cruisers. With great effort, they manage to bring the situation under control. As the vessel is being escorted in convoy towards the harbor, a medical emergency suddenly occurs on board, requiring a daring rescue operation: a sea rescuer has to board the sailboat in heavy seas. Shortly afterwards, a red warning light is noticed on the sailboat. The situation threatens to escalate again.
Firefighting operation: Ship in flames
Feb 12, 2025
Black smoke rises menacingly and toxically into the sky – a fire on a naval vessel. Every sailor's worst nightmare. Within minutes, the Arkona sea rescue cruiser reaches the scene, and its fire pumps are put into operation at full pressure. The fire soon seems to be contained, but then comes the shock: the flames flare up again. For 61-year-old Steffen, on his first firefighting mission, the operation becomes a trial by fire – quite literally.
Ship in distress: Nighttime operation
Feb 12, 2025
On a stormy night, the Travemünde volunteer station is alerted: A stricken vessel is adrift on the Baltic Sea – without lights. The sea rescuers waste no time and rush out into the darkness, but the search proves difficult. They manage to establish contact only by radio until they finally spot the ship in the churning sea. Despite the heavy waves, they manage to take the sailboat in tow. But the young man's condition is a great concern for the rescuers.
Emergency doctor on board
Feb 12, 2025
The sea rescuers from Warnemünde are alerted: A man has collapsed on his sailing yacht. For sea rescue doctor Christine Rose, this is her first mission, and the situation is critical. A daring maneuver by the rescuers is necessary to even reach the yacht and bring the doctor safely on board. There, it quickly becomes clear that the man's condition is critical. Initially, everything points to a heart attack, but Christine has another suspicion – a hunch that could mean the difference between the patient's life and death.
Rescue from the burning tanker
Feb 12, 2025
Flames are raging on an oil tanker off Warnemünde. The situation threatens to escalate. "My first thought was: 'Oh, I hope this isn't my last call,'" recalls Steffen Schmeißer, who had extinguished his very first ship fire just a few weeks earlier. The sea rescuers must get the seven-member crew off the ship quickly and safely. Every minute counts, because the sailors' lives are at stake, while the flames threaten to spread relentlessly to the rest of the vessel.
Ghost ship off Norderney
Feb 12, 2025
Off the coast of Norderney, a disabled vessel is causing quite a stir. Without a functioning engine and completely unlit, it is drifting aimlessly in the water. The crew of a passing ferry notices the drifting ship and immediately alerts the sea rescue service. The situation is critical, as the uncontrolled vessel poses a significant danger to shipping in the busy area. The sea rescuers begin a time-sensitive operation to prevent a worse outcome, but when they reach the ship, they can hardly believe their eyes.
Mast breakage: Every sailor's nightmare
Feb 12, 2025
Broken mast on the North Sea: Without lights or radio contact, the sea rescuers search for a stricken sailor. For DGzRS newcomer Michel Schütze, it's his first mission where what awaits him remains uncertain. Using the daughter boat, they finally manage to reach the sailor in distress. The darkness presents a particular challenge. While the crew tries to secure the broken mast, the boat drifts inexorably towards the busy shipping lane. Every minute counts.
Inflatable boat: Lost in the North Sea
Feb 12, 2025
The water police raise the alarm: A woman reports her husband missing, while a floating inflatable boat without occupants is sighted on the outer Elbe. At the same time, another boat reports that an inflatable boat is circling unmanned – a worrying report. "If he's fallen into the water, it's a matter of minutes!" warns Kai Schöps, second engineer of the "Anneliese Kramer." The sea rescuers anxiously scan the water with binoculars, while a helicopter supports the search. Time is running out.
