A man miraculously survived after spending 67 days adrift in a small inflatable boat in the stormy Sea of Okhotsk off Russia’s Far East after he was discovered by fishermen.
Shocking images showed the remarkable rescue of Mikhail Pichugin, 45, by the Russian fishing boat Angel.
The emaciated-looking man, who authorities said had lost 50 kilograms of body weight, was seen wrapped in blankets and a life jacket aboard the tiny boat to which he had tied a small orange flag in a desperate attempt to call the attention.
But next to him lay two bodies: that of his older brother Sergey Pichugin, 49, and his nephew Ilya, 15.
The trio had embarked on a whale-watching expedition in their 15-foot boat on August 9 when its engine failed and they began to drift out to sea.
Experts have praised Mikhail’s survival after more than two months in seas known for their storms and frigid temperatures as “beyond all comprehension.”
The miraculous moment of the rescue of the whaler Mikhail Pichugin, 45, who was adrift in the open sea for 67 days
The emaciated-looking man, who authorities said had lost 50 kilograms of body weight, was seen wrapped in blankets and a life jacket aboard the tiny boat.
Experts have praised Mikhail’s survival after more than two months in seas known for their storms and frigid temperatures as “beyond all comprehension.”
Mikhail Pichugin, 45, with his family, including his ex-wife Ekaterina, 38.
The relatives were on a return trip from the remote Shantar Islands, whose waters are a feeding ground for whales, to Okha, on Russia’s largest island, Sakhalin, when disaster struck.
They had warm clothing, life jackets, flares, a small supply of food and 20 liters of drinking water on board, and they anticipated that the trip would last several days.
But after the Baykat 470 M inflatable catamaran lost the use of its Honda engine, the vessel drifted at least 625 miles over the course of more than two months.
Russian rescuers had searched for the trio in vain and after a month evidently decided they were unlikely to survive in a sea known for its storms.
But Mikhail was eventually found about 14 miles from the village of Ust-Khairyuzovo, on the Kamchatka Peninsula, by the fishing boat Angel.
As the fishing boat approached, Mikhail was heard saying: “Strength is low.”
The crew prepared to throw a rope to bring the survivor’s boat closer and finally managed to get him on board.
“When they said that Misha (Mikhail) was alive, I thought we were waiting for a miracle, and it happened,” his ex-wife Ekaterina Pichugina, 38, with whom he shares a daughter, told KP-Irkutsk.
“After 4 in the morning the captain of the ship on which Misha was being taken to Magadan called me. The captain says that Misha received medical assistance. Its condition is satisfactory.
“However, he lost 50 kg, half his weight.”
MIkhail was described as a keen fisherman but has yet to tell how he survived for so long.
Mikhail is seen calling for help as the fishing boat that rescued him approaches.
Two bodies lay next to him: that of his older brother Sergey Pichugin, 49, and that of his nephew Ilya, 15.
Mikhail’s brother Sergei and nephew Ilya died on the ship.
Local experts are amazed by his survival for about 67 days after he went missing.
Dmitry Lisitsyn, director of Sakhalin Environment Watch, said: “There are two real miracles here.⠀
“The first is that such a small and uncontrolled ship did not capsize in the stormy autumn sea of Okhotsk after more than two months adrift.
‘I can’t understand how this is possible.
‘The ship certainly passed through several strong storms and stayed afloat; This is something incredible.
‘The second is that someone on this ship survived. The fact that two people died, a father and a son, is very sad, but not surprising.
‘But how the third person, his uncle and brother, could survive in the freezing and stormy sea for more than two months is simply beyond comprehension. “It really is a miracle.”
He said: ‘For more than 20 years I have been traveling around the Sea of Okhotsk on an inflatable boat and I completely understand what this man went through.
“But I can’t understand how he managed to survive.”
Mikhail Pichugin, 45 years old
The fisherman may face the wrath of Russian prosecutors and a possible prison sentence of up to seven years despite his miraculous survival story.
It is unknown when Mikhail’s brother and nephew died, as authorities have not yet interviewed Mikhail.
But once he recovers, the fisherman may face the wrath of Russian prosecutors and a possible prison sentence of up to seven years despite his miraculous story of survival.
His ship is considered unsuitable under Russian law to venture more than two nautical miles from the coast, and a criminal case has been opened over a possible violation of maritime safety laws.
Russia’s Far Eastern Transport Prosecutor’s Office said: “The ship was found in the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk off the village of Ust-Khayruzovo in the Kamchatka region.
“Two people died, one survived and is receiving medical assistance.”
The office confirmed that a criminal case had been launched, TASS reported.
