The last man to be safely taken off the Ocean Ranger before it sank 40 years ago tomorrow can thank a fire at his home in metro for beginning a series of events which would ultimately result in him getting a second chance at life.

The Ranger sank in the early morning hours on February 15, 1982 in a violent storm that weekend. Eighty-four lives were lost.

Some of the workers managed to get into a life raft and were close to the service vessel the Seaforth Highlander when disaster struck again and the raft capsized, spilling all into the cruel sea.

Gary Wall got a telex that Friday evening, informing him of a fire at his house. He checked to see if there would be any opportunity to hop aboard a chopper but none was scheduled. However, a pilot on a rig nearby heard the call and decided to divert to the Ranger to pick him up. He was successful in landing on the ill-fated rig on his third, and final attempt. He contacted Wall a couple of years ago to see how he was doing.

Wall got in at about 1:30 Sunday morning. About 24 hours later, the rig sank.