A Russian man named Mikhail Pichugin has miraculously survived more than two months drifting in the frigid waters of the Sea of Okhotsk on an inflatable boat. Sadly, his brother and 15-year-old nephew did not survive the ordeal.
Pichugin, who set off with his family on August 9 from the Khabarovsk region bound for Sakhalin Island, was found weighing only 50 kg (110 lbs) after spending 66 days at sea. His wife, Yekaterina, suggested that his original weight of 100 kg (220 lbs) may have contributed to his survival.
The inflatable catamaran was discovered around 10 PM on Monday by a fishing boat, approximately 1,000 km (670 miles) from its departure point. A video released by officials shows Pichugin, wearing a life jacket, calling out for help to the fishermen. He managed to grab a rope thrown to him.
The bodies of his brother, Sergei, 49, and nephew, Ilya, were still on the boat. A search operation, involving helicopters and planes, had been initiated shortly after they were reported missing, as authorities believed the boat might have been carried by currents towards Kamchatka.
Yekaterina described her husband's survival as a "kind of miracle," noting that the trio had only packed enough food and water for two weeks. Reports indicated that they managed to survive by collecting rainwater and consuming dried noodles and peas.
After being rescued, Pichugin was transported to Magadan, where medical staff reported his condition as “more or less stable,” although he is likely suffering from hypothermia. The fishing vessel also recovered the bodies and the inflatable boat, which is now under investigation.
Transport police have launched an inquiry into possible violations of safety regulations, which could result in Pichugin facing criminal charges with a potential prison sentence of up to seven years.
Sources close to the investigation noted that Pichugin’s nephew died in early September, and after his brother fell into the icy water while trying to clean himself, Pichugin attempted to rescue him but was unsuccessful. To prevent the bodies from falling into the sea, he tied them to the boat and hung their life jackets over the side in a desperate effort to attract attention.
Originally from Ulan-Ude in Siberia, Pichugin was working as a driver in Sakhalin and had invited his brother and nephew for a whale-watching trip, according to reports from relatives.
This incident echoes a historical event from 1960, where four Soviet soldiers survived 49 days adrift in a small boat in the Pacific Ocean, eventually being rescued by a US aircraft carrier.
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