A Russian man has narrated his harrowing experience of surviving 67 days adrift in a small inflatable boat in the Sea of Okhotsk, overcoming extreme cold and relying on rainwater for sustenance. Mikhail Pichugin, aged 46, embarked on a trip to observe whales alongside his brother, 49, and his 15-year-old nephew. However, their voyage took a tragic turn when the engine failed during their return journey on August 9.

After the engine shut down, attempts by emergency services to find the men proved fruitless. Sadly, Pichugin’s brother and nephew succumbed, prompting him to tie their bodies to the boat to prevent them from being swept away by the sea. Located approximately 11 nautical miles off Kamchatka and about 1,000 kilometers (around 540 nautical miles) from their departure point, Pichugin was rescued by a fishing vessel this week.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Pichugin recounted how the mechanical failure of the boat and the breaking of an oar rendered them unable to steer. The mobile phone aboard the boat offered little assistance as there was no network available; they used it for geolocation until the battery and power bank ran out. Despite their efforts to signal for help with flares, their attempts went largely unnoticed. “A helicopter flew past close, then another one after three days, but they were useless,” Pichugin told reporters, as shared by Russian state television.

Throughout his ordeal, Pichugin and the others collected rainwater to stay hydrated while battling the freezing temperatures of eastern Russia. He mentioned a sleeping bag made from camel wool that failed to provide sufficient warmth, stating, “You crawl under it, wiggle a little, and get warm.”

Their food supplies were limited to noodles and peas, and they attempted to catch fish to augment their diet. According to Pichugin, his nephew died from a combination of hypothermia and starvation in September. He described his brother’s decline into erratic behavior, recalling a moment when he tried to leap from the boat.

Pichugin reflected on his survival, attributing it to divine intervention, and expressed his resolve, saying, “I simply had no choice; I had my mother and my daughter left at home.” Following his rescue, medical personnel at Magadan hospital reported that he was stable but suffering from dehydration and hypothermia.