 At this point, however, a severe storm blew up, and both of these forces were driven back to shore.Eteonicus escaped, and a great number of Athenian sailors—estimates as to the precise figure have ranged from near 1,000 to as many as 5,000—drowned.Soon after the news of this public tragedy reached Athens, a massive controversy erupted over the apportionment of blame for the botched rescue.