A listener note, against the odds uses dramatizations that are based on true events.

Some elements, including dialogue, may be invented, but everything is based on research.

Yossi Ginsburg sticks his ore into the water and feels the river's current almost snatch

from his hands. He studies himself on the wooden raft and glances up at the red rock cliffs,

looming along both sides of the river. The cliffs are rising higher, the river channel is narrowing,

and the rapids are speeding up. It's like the river is racing to get away from something,

and it's taking Yossi and his friend Kevin Gale with it.

It's December 1st, 1981, in the remote jungles of Northern Bolivia. Yossi and Kevin are

rafting down the Tuichi River. It's only been a few hours since they set goodbye to their

traveling companions, Marcus and Carl. After Carl decided to abandon the expedition and return

to civilization on foot. But Yossi and Kevin chose to keep going on the river. Now Yossi wonders if

they've bitten off more than they can chew. He looks at Kevin, whose eyes are fixed downstream.

Remember, just keep the front of the raft pointed straight ahead. Don't fight the current.

After this next set of rapids, we should come to that riverbank Carl told us about,

and we can rest. Water sloshes onto the raft as they bounce over the rapids.

Up ahead, Yossi sees rocks and boulders jutting out of the white water,

and looks like an obstacle course. Their raft is about eight feet wide,

and Yossi doesn't see any possible way for them to avoid every hazard. Sure enough,

a massive boulder appears dead ahead. The current is drawing them right to it.

To the right! To the right! The men dig their ores into the water,

trying to steer clear of the boulder. But against these rapids, their ores might as well

be toothpicks. Just before they hit the boulder, Yossi lies flat and grabs the ropes that hold

...