Styx

Rike, a skilled German emergency doctor, sets sail on an adventure aboard her yacht, the Asa Gray. She aims to trace Charles Darwin's historical maritime paths from Gibraltar to Ascension Island, filled with excitement and hope for discovery.

While navigating the waters off North Africa, Rike receives a critical warning from a nearby container ship about an impending severe storm. This alert pushes her to prepare her yacht for the turbulent weather ahead.

Rike endures a fierce storm that ravages her yacht through the night. The harrowing experience tests her resilience and skills as an emergency doctor, with tumultuous waves and strong winds threatening to capsize her vessel.

After the storm subsides, Rike notices an overloaded trawler in distress, filled with over a hundred desperate passengers. This sight ignites an overwhelming sense of urgency within her, driving her to take action.

Rike tries to establish communication with the trawler via radio, but her efforts prove fruitless. The frustration mounts as multiple vessels are spotted on her radar, yet none are willing to assist the struggling boat.

After alerting the coastguards, Rike is promised assistance, but she realizes that help will take long hours to arrive. The situation escalates as she learns the transport ship’s captain will not risk their vessel to aid in the rescue.

As time goes by, Rike watches helplessly as desperate passengers begin to fall into the turbulent sea or leap overboard in search of safety. The urgency of the crisis weighs heavily on her conscience as she feels powerless to help.

Among the chaos, Rike spots a 14-year-old boy named Kingsley who manages to swim toward her yacht. She quickly throws him a lifebuoy, successfully pulling him aboard and tending to his injuries with the skills she possesses as a doctor.

As Kingsley regains consciousness, he becomes increasingly desperate to save those left behind, especially his sister. In a chaotic struggle, he tries to seize the ignition key, leading to a moment where Rike is pushed into the sea.

After regaining control of the yacht, Rike is forced to inform the coastguard that her yacht is at risk of sinking. In a moment of desperation, she takes drastic measures by cutting off the ship's electrical system and activating her distress beacon.

Despite the risk, Rike decides to approach the trawler again that night. She is confronted with a horrific scene, witnessing dead and dying passengers aboard the abandoned vessel, which amplifies the trauma of the situation.

At dawn, the coastguard’s frigate arrives on the scene. The officials work tirelessly to rescue the remaining survivors while recovering those who did not survive the tragic ordeal, providing much-needed help.

Having survived the ordeal, Rike boards the coastguard frigate, grappling with the emotional aftermath of her experiences. She struggles to articulate the trauma she faced during the rescue to the coastguard officials who question her actions.

As Rike speaks with the coastguard, she learns that she will face legal proceedings regarding her actions during the rescue. The weight of the terrible choices made during the crisis begins to bear down on her as she prepares for what comes next.