Carol Shaben, the author of "Into the Abyss," brings a unique and deeply personal perspective to the gripping narrative of the survivors of the 1984 plane crash in Alberta, Canada. At the age of 22, Shaben found herself intimately connected to the heart-wrenching event when her father's plane went down. This tragic experience ignited her passion for capturing stories of courage and conviction, and it serves as the driving force behind her compelling exploration of survival and resilience.

How do we get out of situations that seem impossible? What are the ways through which we can engage our minds into thinking that an impossible situation can be solved? Shaben, describes this amazingly in her book, “Into the Abyss.” The journey of Erik Vogel, a 24-year-old, will be insightful for you, emphasising the importance of trusting your instincts, positive upbeat mindset, grit, perseverance, and good old comradeship in scaling insurmountable odds. Dive in to find out how he comes out of a difficult and uncertain situation.

On October 19, 1984, Erik Vogel, a 24-year-old pilot, faced a challenging situation as he piloted a flight from Edmonton to Grande Prairie at 7 pm, with 10 passengers on board. Adverse weather conditions, the absence of a co-pilot, and concerns about the plane's weight due to fuel and luggage made the journey highly risky and uncertain.

Among the passengers, three of them were Larry Shaben, the provincial housing minister, rookie RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) officer Scott Deschamps, and prisoner Paul Richard. Taking off precisely at 7:13 pm, Erik diligently formulated the best plan for the journey. However, it became evident that accommodating all three mandated stops as instructed by his boss Dale Wells, while adhering to regulations, in particular the High Prairie stop, seemed impossible. Erik decided to skip the High Prairie stop and land in Peace River instead.

As the journey continued, Erik faced further challenges. Despite his calculations and descent preparations, the plane failed to locate the High Prairie airport, resulting in a harrowing turn of events. The right-wing collided with a snowy hillside, causing significant damage and tilting the plane. Subsequently, the aircraft crashed to the ground, destroyed, and ended up upside down, buried three feet deep in the snow. Amid this devastation, Paul managed to escape the wreckage with a few cuts and immediately recognised the need to distance himself from the plane due to the potential for an explosion.

Larry regained consciousness in an inverted position, still strapped to his seat. After a few minutes of struggle, he successfully freed himself from the plane with a shattered rib cage. Despite being covered in blood, Erik's quick thinking to turn off the plane's engine prevented a potential explosion. Moans could be heard from other passengers, but the survivors realised that their ability to help was limited. Meanwhile, Scott, buried under the snow, utilised his training in avalanche rescue to create an airspace around his mouth, preventing suffocation. Witnessing Scott's struggle, Paul swiftly came to his aid, employing a coordinated effort to free Scott from the snow's grasp. After freeing themselves from the wreckage, the survivors ventured back to the plane in hopes of assisting other passengers. However, their efforts proved in vain as they discovered that all of the remaining passengers had tragically perished except one, whose escape seemed impossible due to the wreckage's precarious position and the extent of his injuries. He could only wait, hoping for the rescue team's arrival.

Imagine the sheer determination required to fight for survival in freezing temperatures for fourteen-plus hours following a devastating crash. Larry Shaben, Erik Vogel, Paul Archambault, and Scott Deschamps defied the odds and managed to light a fire, clinging desperately to hope as they awaited rescue. 

How did these courageous individuals find the strength to endure the bitter cold and stay alive? What strategies did they employ to keep the fire burning and maintain their diminishing hope in the face of such dire circumstances?

As the minutes ticked by without any sign of the plane's arrival, Luella Wood, the airport manager, grew increasingly concerned. She was unable to establish communication with the aircraft. The Peace River Flight Service took immediate action when another plane detected an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal—a clear indication that an aircraft had gone down.

With the news of the crash, Dale Wells, also the president of Wapiti Airlines, wasted no time and arranged for a private jet for his search team and himself, quickly organising a search and rescue operation. At the airport, Alma, Larry's wife, and the other anxious individuals were instructed to return home and await updates. Determined to locate the crash site, Dale along with his team, ventured 32 kilometres southeast of South Prairie, braving treacherous weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the four survivors—Larry (suffering from fractured ribs, a broken finger, and teeth), Erik (with a punctured lung), Paul, and Scott (with a broken rib cage)—huddled around the fire, clinging to each other, and wrapping themselves in layers of clothing to ward off the cold. Paul, displaying remarkable strength, undertook multiple trips between the crash site and the fire, diligently checking on the condition of the still-trapped passenger, and offering reassurance in the face of their impending fate.

Amid their dire circumstances, the survivors had only four cookies to sustain them until help arrived. Erik summoned the courage to disclose to his fellow survivors that he was the pilot and assured them that a search would have already commenced. However, he acknowledged the daunting challenge of locating their remote location amidst harsh weather conditions.

Amidst this gripping tale of survival, one can't help but wonder: Will the search and rescue teams overcome the treacherous weather and find the stranded survivors in time? Will the four men's dwindling resources and rapidly deteriorating physical condition be enough to sustain them until rescue arrives?

Despite being hailed as a hero, Paul still faced the charges pressed against him and was subsequently incarcerated after leaving the hospital. However, on October 22, a sympathetic judge acknowledged Paul's heroic actions and declared that he had already served his sentence, granting him freedom. Overwhelmed by this realisation, Paul felt a surge of determination to make the most of this newfound opportunity and turn his life around. He heeded the advice to seek therapy and actively worked on self-improvement.

Erik, on the other hand, grappled with guilt and struggled to come to terms with the crash. When his father, a pilot for Air Canada, visited him in the hospital, he found it difficult to accept how his son could have been responsible for the tragic incident. Erik's health continued to decline as the weight of his guilt consumed him.

Meanwhile, Dale Wells, tirelessly working since the crash, faced a relentless schedule as the authorities contemplated banning Wapiti Airline. The aftermath of the incident continued to impact his professional life.

On February 26, 1985, the survivors came together for the first time since the crash, gathering for a public inquiry conducted by the CASB. Erik, as the pilot, provided a detailed account of the events leading up to the crash, with Paul, Larry, and Scott testifying as well. After four days of hearings, Paul received a life-saving certificate, an unexpected honour that further reinforced his determination to make positive changes in his life.

Paul experienced a newfound love in his life in Grand Prairie, where he thrived and aspired to be a better person for his partner, Susan. However, his world crumbled when he witnessed Susan flirting with another man. Overwhelmed by betrayal, Paul impulsively drove away, causing a severe accident that reignited his addiction to painkillers. Susan discovered Paul lying on the floor, needle in hand, and demanded that he leave. Tragically, on May 7th, 1991, Paul succumbed to exposure, with Scott being the last person to see him in 1990.

Scott secured a job as an immigration officer after recovering, but he felt unfulfilled and realised it was not the path he desired. Choosing to follow his heart, he quit his job and ended his marriage. Homeless and unemployed, Scott seized an opportunity to live with Erik in 1985, who had lost his pilot's licence. After some time, Scott embarked on a journey to find his half-sister in Africa, successfully reuniting with her in 1998 through written correspondence. They eventually visited each other.

Erik faced the loss of his pilot's licence and had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. He took on roles as a firefighter and a truck driver, all the while advocating for pilot safety, urging small airline pilots not to repeat his past mistake of flying while overworked. Erik deeply missed flying and resolved to fight for the reinstatement of his licence. In 2000, he triumphantly returned to the skies, working part-time for West Coast Air and finding solace in the closure of Wapiti Airline.

Larry remained dedicated to his political service, using it as a way to keep himself occupied and distract himself from haunting flashbacks. However, a few months later, while travelling back from Edmonton with his wife, Larry encountered two motorcyclists appearing in need of assistance on the side of the road. With his characteristic kindness, Larry offered them a ride. Unexpectedly, the situation took a dark turn as the two men viciously attacked Larry, leaving him severely injured and requiring hospitalisation. Alma, his wife, managed to escape and call for help. Reflecting on these two near-death experiences, Larry contemplated his life while recovering in the hospital bed.

In October 2004, Larry arranged a reunion with the surviving men, twenty years after the crash. They gathered together, embracing one another, and expressing their gratitude for Paul's tireless efforts during the time of the crash, as he ran back and forth to assist anyone in need. They also reminisced about their responses to the question they asked each other twenty years ago while they anxiously awaited the arrival of the rescue team: "If you had one wish right now, what would you wish for?" Erik had expressed a yearning for a refreshing cold drink, Paul had longed for the solace of a joint, Scott had wished for the opportunity to apologise to his wife and kids, and Larry had yearned for the simple pleasure of a soothing hot bath.

Larry devoted himself to philanthropy and volunteer work, actively supporting the Muslim community in Edmonton. Tragically, he passed away in 2008 due to cancer. Scott returned to his career as an officer, although he was no longer the hardcore cop he once was. Erik, on the other hand, honed his piloting skills to the point where he could confidently navigate almost any aircraft.

Despite the passage of time and the challenges they faced, the survivors' reunion provided an opportunity for reflection, the sharing of wishes, and a recognition of the diverse paths their lives had taken.

"Into the Abyss" chronicles the gripping tale of four survivors of a tragic plane crash in 1984. Larry, Erik, Paul, and Scott faced freezing temperatures and harrowing conditions as they fought to stay alive. Their resilience and support for one another, along with the tireless efforts of the rescue teams, led to their eventual rescue. The story explores their journeys of healing, redemption, and the enduring impact of their near-death experience.

Ultimately, "Into the Abyss" is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest of times, the human spirit can persevere, find hope, and emerge stronger than before. It urges us to hold onto hope, find solace in unity, and embrace life with courage and gratitude, no matter the challenges that lie ahead.