Styx 2019

Rike, a dedicated German emergency doctor, embarks on a solo sailing adventure aboard her twelve-meter-long yacht, the Asa Gray. Her journey traces the historic footsteps of Charles Darwin, taking her from Gibraltar to Ascension Island in the picturesque South Atlantic. However, while navigating the waters off North Africa, she receives a warning from a nearby container ship about an impending severe storm.

After enduring the fierce storm that night, Rike’s attention is drawn to a dangerously overloaded trawler in distress. With over a hundred souls onboard crying out for help, Rike is faced with an overwhelming sense of urgency. She attempts to establish communication via radio, but her efforts yield no response. Despite several vessels appearing on her radar, rescue teams remain frustratingly unresponsive. The coastguards, once alerted, promise assistance, yet it’s clear help will take long hours to arrive. Adding to her despair, the captain of the transport ship, who previously pledged support, informs her that their company forbids involvement in the rescue of at-risk refugees.

As time passes, Rike witnesses desperate passengers falling or leaping into the turbulent waters. Among them, she spots a 14-year-old boy, later identified as Kingsley, who manages to swim to her yacht. With quick reflexes, she utilizes a lifebuoy to rescue him and pull him aboard. After learning his name from the wristband he wears, Rike tends to Kingsley’s injuries, placing him under an IV drip to restore his strength. In her continued attempts to summon help, the coastguard advises her to maintain distance from the trawler, causing her inner turmoil as she senses the unfolding tragedy.

Kingsley, regaining consciousness and desperate to save those left behind—especially his sister—begins to pressure Rike. He even attempts to seize the ignition key, pushing her into the sea during a chaotic struggle. Though he briefly takes control of the yacht, he soon realizes the gravity of their situation, which forces Rike to fearfully inform the coastguard that her yacht is at risk of sinking. This leads her to take drastic measures by cutting off the ship’s electrical system and activating her distress beacon.

The following night, Rike makes the perilous decision to approach the trawler once more, only to be confronted by the harrowing sight of dead and dying passengers. As dawn breaks, the coastguard’s frigate arrives, working tirelessly to rescue survivors from the abandoned vessel and recover the deceased. Ultimately, Rike finds herself aboard the frigate, grappling with trauma as she struggles to articulate her experiences to the coastguard officials, who inform her that she will face legal proceedings for her actions.