MOSCOW — A Russian man was rescued from the turbulent waters of the Sea of Okhotsk after enduring more than two months adrift in a small inflatable boat, which had lost its engine. However, his brother and nephew did not survive, authorities reported on Tuesday.
According to the prosecutor’s office in Russia’s far east, the man was discovered and rescued on Monday by a fishing vessel near the Kamchatka Peninsula. While officials did not disclose the survivor’s name, Russian media identified him as 46-year-old Mikhail Pichugin. Tragically, the bodies of his brother, aged 49, and his 15-year-old nephew were found in the boat when the fishing vessel, Angel, arrived to assist Pichugin.
The three men had embarked on a trip to observe whales in the Sea of Okhotsk at the beginning of August. After going missing during their return to Sakhalin Island on August 9, a search operation was initiated but ultimately did not locate the group.
Reports indicate that Pichugin, along with his relatives, had a limited supply of food and approximately 20 liters (5.2 gallons) of water when their boat’s engine malfunctioned, leaving them adrift. When he was found, Pichugin had lost a significant amount of weight, weighing only about 50 kilograms (110 pounds).
Details regarding his survival methods in the frigid Sea of Okhotsk, notorious for its fierce storms, are still unclear, as he did not immediately elaborate on how he managed to stay alive or what led to the deaths of his brother and nephew.
Initially, the crew of the fishing vessel mistook the small inflatable boat for a buoy or debris when it appeared on their radar, Komsomolskaya Pravda reported. When they focused their spotlight for a clearer view, they were stunned to find Pichugin there.
A video shared by the prosecutor’s office depicted a visibly weakened man, wearing a life jacket, calling out for help as the crew worked to bring him aboard safely. “I have no strength left,” Pichugin remarked as he was rescued.
In response to the tragedy, prosecutors have begun an investigation into the incident, citing potential violations of safety regulations that may have contributed to the fatalities.