Oklahoma couple share their story after being lost at sea for nearly 40 hours

EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR) — Nathan and Kim Maker returned home Monday night after a scuba diving trip took a scary turn.

They were diving off the coast of Freeport, Texas last week.

While in the water, one of their dives was cut short, due to a malfunction with a crucial piece of equipment on someone's gear. On the way up to the surface, all divers were using a line to guide them back to the boat.

"One of the ladies in our group lost her hand on the line and started drifting out," said Nathan. "So I got her back to the line, but I just didn't have enough to get there."

The woman Nathan helped was able to make it back. He and Kim did not.

Alone in the water, the couple turned to their years of experience from diving.

"He had the good sense to tether us together so that we don't get separated," said Kim.

Hours went by, and the couple remained stranded. They saw a light shining from an oil rig, north from where they were floating.

"We swam nine hours towards the direction ... and then a massive storm hit," Kim said.

After the storm passed, the light was gone. Nathan and Kim were exhausted. Both being trained divers, they held on.

The second day out in the water, they heard a miracle. It was the U.S. Coast Guard rushing to their rescue.

"To all the men and women of the Coast Guard. We want to say thank you. Thank you for not giving up on us, especially the lieutenant who is in charge," Nathan and Kim said.