‘Last Breath’ Brings a Harrowing True Diving Survival Story to the Big Screen

The film dramatizes the miraculous 2012 survival of saturation diver Chris Lemons, who was stranded underwater without oxygen for nearly 30 minutes.

Chris Lemons, a saturation diver, faced near-certain death in 2012 after his lifeline was severed during a routine dive in the North Sea, leaving him stranded without oxygen for nearly 30 minutes.
The film 'Last Breath,' starring Finn Cole, Woody Harrelson, and Simu Liu, dramatizes the real-life events, highlighting the high-stakes world of saturation diving and the camaraderie among divers.
Lemons' survival was attributed to a rare combination of conditions, including the cold water and the effects of pressurized gases in his system, which slowed his metabolism and extended his survival time.
The movie's underwater cinematography captures the eerie and isolating environment of deep-sea diving, though some critics found the dramatization lacked tension and character depth compared to the original documentary.
'Last Breath' explores the psychological and physical challenges of saturation diving, a profession that requires divers to live in confined, pressurized chambers for weeks at a time.