Employers can pull the "non recommendation" thing anywhere under any circumstance. Why would this occurrence be at all special? That’s like saying they got mugged by someone, don’t go there.
I think you can get a job in most fields fairly easily without references if your resume is good. I don't think it's possible to get a job without references in academia.
The boat - she was trapped. Elsewhere you can find another position, move, change schools, something.