Man found alive alongside bodies of brother and nephew after 2 months adrift at sea
A Russian man has been found alive in an inflatable boat alongside the bodies of his brother and nephew after two months adrift at sea.
According to Russia’s state-run Ria Novosti news agency, a fishing crew discovered the small catamaran in the glacial waters of the Okhotsk Sea on Monday, approximately 1,000km from his journey’s initial start point.
Named by Russian media, Mikhail Pichugin, 46, is said to have gone on a whale-watching trip to the Shantar Islands with his brother and nephew at the start of August.
However, the engine failed on the boat and a rescue operation struggled to find the missing individuals.
In a video shared by the prosecutor’s office, a man is seen shouting at the crew of fishermen: “I have no strength left.”
Pichugin was taken to hospital and is being treated for hypothermia and dehydration, but remains “more or less stable”, according to medics.
Speaking to Ria, the man’s wife said: “We don’t know anything yet. We just know that he’s alive… It’s some kind of miracle!”
She added that his weight might have played a part in the reason why he managed to survive the situation, explaining that he previously weighed 100kg but this has since halved.
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The bodies of the survivor’s brother, 56, and nephew, 15, were still on the boat when he was discovered.
Pichugin’s daughter also intended to go on the trip at first but changed her mind last minute.
Now, a criminal investigation has been launched by Russian prosecutors to carry out an inspection of the boat and an attempt to understand and establish the incident’s circumstances.
Police have suggested that the prospect the man could be charged and might even face jail time.
The Baza Telegram channel reported that the trio had eaten dried noodles and peas, drinking rainwater to survive.
According to Pichugin’s wife, the trio had two weeks’ worth of food aboard before they embarked on their journey.
Several accounts of individuals lost at sea have proved that Pichugin’s case is not totally unique.
Speaking to Ria, an expert relayed the story of four Soviet soldiers who survived almost 50 days off land in 1960, who were eventually rescued by a US aircraft carrier.