MARSHALL ISLANDS — Filmmaker Soraya Simi traveled to the Marshall Islands to retrieve Angela Madsen's boat, Row of Life, after it washed ashore approximately 18 months following Madsen's death. Madsen, an ocean rower, Marine Corps veteran, and Paralympian, died in 2020 during a solo and unsupported rowing attempt across the Pacific Ocean from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

A cargo vessel located Madsen's body tethered to her boat after a search-and-rescue operation. Following this event, the Row of Life was lost at sea after a Category IV hurricane. Simi, who directed the documentary "Row Of Life," retrieved several items from the boat, including Madsen's rowing seat, Marine Corps badges, and an American flag. Cameras and SD cards containing footage from Madsen's journey were not found on the boat.

Simi traveled to the Marshall Islands with cinematographer Keenan Newman for the recovery effort. Local authorities initially issued an arrest warrant that prevented Simi from accessing the island where the boat was located. Simi secured permission from local tribal leadership to reach the Row of Life.

"In 2019, shortly after I graduated from USC's film school, I received a message from a woman I'd never met," Simi said. "Angela had seen a short film I'd made about sailing and reached out to ask if I would document her journey." She added, "Her 2020 open-ocean row took a tragic turn."

Why It Matters

This event marks the recovery of a personal artifact belonging to a Paralympian and veteran whose final journey ended in the Pacific Ocean. The retrieval of the Row of Life allows for the recovery of personal items and provides a conclusive point regarding the vessel's fate after being lost at sea for an extended period. The absence of cameras and SD cards from the boat means that footage from Madsen's final journey remains unaccounted for.