'They Didn't Give Up:' Rescued Edmond Divers Back Home After Nearly 2 Days At Sea

An Edmond couple survived a scuba diving accident and were left stranded in the Gulf of Mexico for nearly two days.

A cheering crowd welcomed them back home on Monday night as they drove by their church. 

Family and friends surrounded Kim and Nathan Maker on Tuesday as they shared their story with News 9. Kim Maker said the Coast Guard was about one hour away from calling off the search. However, she said a member of the team told search and rescue crews to keep trying. 

During the couple’s dive excursion last week, Nathan Maker had attempted to save a woman who drifted away from their group. During that time, the current swept them away from their boat. 

Nearly two days later the U.S. Coast Guard found them about 15 miles offshore from Matagorda, Texas. Nathan Maker wrote down some people to thank tonight. People he says pulled him and his wife from death. 

“U.S. Sector Coast Guard Corpus Christi, U.S. Air Station Houston. U.S. Coast Guard Station Port O'Connor, and the U.S. Coast Guard Heartland. We love these people with everything that we have left. I can’t wait to meet them someday and hug them. They didn't give up,” Maker said. 

The couple suffered minor health setbacks being out in the water and the sun for that long. However, they were in great spirits on Tuesday, and they expect to recover. The couple also shared how their bond as a couple helped them survive those 36 hours at sea. News 9 will share their full story Wednesday night on News 9 at 10.