Man Survives 67 Days on a Small Inflatable Boat in the Sea Before Being Rescued

A Russian man went whale watching on a boat with his loved ones and was lost in the sea for 67 days. Mikhail Pichugin was in the middle of life and death, for two months, as his small inflatable boat went adrift in the Sea of Okhotsk, BBC reported. In early August he set off with his brother and 15-year-old nephew to watch whales. They reportedly lost control of the boat and the next time the trio came to the coast, only one had survived.

Pichugin claims that their boat's engine gave up when they were returning on August 9, CBS News reported. Misfortune doubled when one of their oars broke down, severely hampering their ability to guide the boat. They had a phone on board but had no network coverage. Still, the trio managed to use it for geolocation till the battery and a power bank they had discharged. 

The trio continuously tried to attract attention towards themselves but failed in their attempts, CBS News reported. "A helicopter flew past close, then another one after three days, but they were useless," Pichugin remembered about one instance. 

Each day was a challenge for the trio on the waters, CBS News reported. The three men collected rainwater to quench their thirst. The biggest problem was keeping themselves warm. "There was a sleeping bag with camel wool, it was wet and didn't dry," he said. "You crawl under it, wiggle a little, and get warm." For food, they depended mainly on their stock which contained noodles and peas, while also trying to catch fish from the sea.

According to Russian media, the nephew died of hypothermia and hunger in September, CBS News reported. The brother allegedly was acting erratically and tried to jump from the boat, before succumbing to his death. The sole survivor, Pichugin had to tie his brother and nephew's body to the boat, so that they don't get washed away to the sea. Pichugin persevered keeping in focus his family back at home. "I simply had no choice, I had my mother and my daughter left at home," he added.

After 67 days, a fishing vessel came to his rescue and took him off the boat, CBS News reported. He was spotted about 11 nautical miles off Kamchatka. Pichugin believes that God played a role in getting him to safety. "A boat called Angel saved me," he said. The man was taken to the nearby hospital for treatment. Magadan deputy governor Tatiana Savchenko checked on him, and told the media that his condition was "satisfactory."

Transport investigators have launched a probe regarding possible breaches of safety regulations by the trio, CBS News reported. If proven Pichugin could face a jail term of up to seven years.