A whale-watcher has shared his harrowing experience after being stranded at sea for 67 days with the remains of his nephew and brother.
In August, Mikhail Pichugin embarked on a whale-watching trip to the remote Shantar Islands in Russia with his 15-year-old nephew, Ilya, and his 49-year-old brother, Sergei.
On their return journey, the motor of their boat malfunctioned when they were still 37 miles from shore.
The family attempted to row back, but their lone oar broke, leaving them adrift in the inflatable dinghy.
Alone on the sea, Ilya tragically perished from starvation, followed by Sergei just 10 days later, overwhelmed by the situation.
Mikhail was left by himself with his deceased relatives, until he was eventually rescued by a Russian fishing vessel named Angel, 67 days after their departure.
Now recovering in a hospital in the Russian city of Magadan, 45-year-old Mikhail has opened up about his survival during the ordeal.
Some reports suggest Mikhail’s initial weight of 100kg contributed to his ability to survive.
To stay hydrated, Mikhail collected and drank rainwater during his time at sea and kept warm using a camel wool sleeping bag.
He noted: “I also had a ‘Mongol’ sleeping bag with camel hair. But it’s kind of wet, it doesn’t dry out.
“You get under it, you fidget a little, you get warm… I just didn’t have a choice.”
Reflecting on his perseverance, Mikhail said: “My mom stayed home, my daughter stayed home.”
When asked if these were the main motivators for him, Mikhail affirmed: “Yes.”
In addition to thoughts of his family, Mikhail credited his faith for helping him endure the ordeal.
“With God’s help, how else? If it was the Angel ship that saved me,” he remarked.
After losing Ilya and Sergei, Mikhail secured their bodies to the boat to prevent them from falling overboard.
Now rescued, his focus is on returning home to bury his nephew and brother.
Despite being safe, Mikhail may still face legal challenges for potentially violating Russian maritime safety regulations.
The Shot Telegram channel indicated: “He could face up to seven years in prison.”
Nonetheless, local authorities are reportedly looking to assist Mikhail by arranging transportation back to the Buryatia region in Siberia.