NBC'S "ESCAPE," A DATELINE SPECIAL PRESENTATION, FEATURES EXTRAORDINARY STORIES OF SURVIVAL IN THREE-PART SERIES

New Series Shares Harrowing First-Person Accounts and Reflections from Survivors of the Costa Concordia Shipwreck, Cedar Fire, and Indian Ocean Tsunami

Hosted by NBC Sports' Josh Elliott, "ESCAPE" Begins Sunday, March 1 at 9pm/8c

NEW YORK - February 24, 2015 - NBC's Dateline will air a three-part series "ESCAPE," a Dateline special presentation, featuring powerful first-hand stories of survival and recovery from ordinary people who faced extraordinary circumstances. The special series highlights inspirational people who are rebuilding their lives after miraculously surviving three of the most devastating disasters in modern history; the Costa Concordia shipwreck, the Cedar Fire, and the Indian Ocean tsunami. Hosted by NBC Sports' Josh Elliott, "ESCAPE" airs Sunday, March 1, 8 and 15 at 9pm/8c.

"ESCAPE" debuts on March 1 with the harrowing story of the Costa Concordia shipwreck in January 2012, which sunk off the coast of the Italian resort island Giglio, killing 32 people. Viewers will meet six brave survivors whose ingenuity and perseverance kept them alive, despite dangerous and chaotic conditions, and with what they say was little guidance from crew members. Dancer Rose Metcalf, newlywed couple Benji Smith and Emily Lau, triathlete Jay Garcia, and seasoned travelers Dr. Steven Ledtke and Kathy Ledtke recount their experiences and the terrifying moment of crisis that came out of nowhere. They also reveal intimate details of their incredible escape and recovery -- sharing their personal struggles, triumphs, and hopeful plans for the future.

Watch a preview of "ESCAPE: Costa Concordia Shipwreck" here: http://nbcnews.to/1DOKexR

The second installment of the series, airing March 8, chronicles the first night and following day of the largest wildfire in California history - the Cedar Fire, and reconnects with more than a dozen individuals whose lives were forever changed by this natural disaster, including families who escaped with their children. The series finale on March 15 offers new insights on the Indian Ocean tsunami that devastated Thailand in December 2004. This episode will feature revealing interviews with several courageous survivors, including supermodel Petra Nemcov�.

Viewers are invited to join the conversation on social media and share their own stories of survival using #ESCAPE. For more information on the "ESCAPE" series visit NBCNews.com/Dateline.

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"ESCAPE," a Dateline special presentation, is an NBC News Production. Senior Executive Producer: David Corvo, Executive Producer: Liz Cole, Co-Executive Producer: Paul Ryan, Producers: Tim Beacham, Robert Buchanan, Carol Gable, Izhar Harpaz, Charmian Gilmartin, Michael Nardi, Field Producers: Simon Doolittle, Terrell Tangonan, Benjamin Weltman, Lead Editor: Chad Bergacs.