*solved* How to back up failing HDD using terminal in recovery mode

[Nugymac]

Hi everyone
Avid Mac user here (2 iMacs, MacBook Pro, watch etc.)
Need some help in backing up a failing hard driver to an external hard drive on a 2010 iMac 27”.

I have used all possibilities and the safe mode has stopped loading which means am the situation is dire...

I tried to get an image of the HDD but it took forever and appeared to be stuck...

I am looking for help using the command lined, but got really stuck here.

basically I am after some support in festoon to what commands I can use, i.e -CP /Volumes/ etc.

just to articulate, I am in recovery mode

thanks Heaps