Ocean rower Jari Saario is a guest on the Efter nio TV show today.
Jari Saario reminds on TV that he has worked at sea all his life and also knows a lot about sea rescue. Henri Kärkkäinen
Firefighter Jari Saario, an ocean rower who was rescued from a sea accident in the Atlantic last month, is going through the last critical phase of his rescue operation Eva Kelan and Janne Grönroosin in the interview. At that point, the crew of the merchant ship had already located Jari in the middle of nowhere and reached him in the heavy waves.
– The captain said afterwards that they were pretty sure that they would drive straight over me, Jari says Efter in nio.
According to Jari, the wave was 7–9 meters long, but the cold-tempered captain of the merchant ship kept the job in hand.
– They caught me, Jari recalls the last possible rope.
– It was the last string that was a chance to throw.
Pictured is Jari Saario in December 2025. In January 2026, he was in distress at sea. Jari Saario’s album
The situation was still not over.
– When they started to pull me, I drifted under the ship, Jari says and reveals that he wondered how he would survive.
– They also said that they were pretty sure that I would go into the propeller, Jari refers to the crew of the rescue ship.
However, as if by a miracle, Jari got to the side of the ship and was able to throw himself into the net.
– I knew myself how difficult it is to save from the sea. Nothing is clear until hands and feet are on deck.
When Jari then got his hands and feet on the deck, the relief was great. He thanked his rescuers and called them his heroes.
– They gave me an extension.
Janne Grönroos and Eva Kela interview Jari Saario on TV. Frida Lönnroos, Yle
Even when going through the struggle of life and death, Jari was not saddened by the decision to go to sea.
– I wouldn’t change anything. I want to be here. I won’t regret it, even if it ends here, Jari remembers thinking.
– I felt that I had lived a good life. Our girls are quite big already, they have good values and they are smart, young women. I felt like I didn’t have to feel guilty about doing something wrong.
Although Jari admits that his death had been harsh news for the family, he still wouldn’t make another decision.
– I had a good feeling about everything. There was no fear of death.
Efter nio today at Teema & Femi at 21:00 & Areena. See all TV programs and broadcast times in Telku’s TV guide.
