A technical analysis cited by a viewer estimates that up to seventy percent of Sydney's crew died in battle, although that estimate is questioned here. Even accepting it would leave a substantial minority alive immediately after the action. Those survivors might be too few to save the cruiser, but the estimate alone cannot explain why none reached rescuers. Ships recovered Kormoran's crew while no one from Sydney was found alive.
Notable Point · 2:19:35-2:25:35
Wreck analysis and the survivor paradox
A disputed estimate of catastrophic battle casualties still leaves questions about the fate of anyone alive after the action.