Man Rescued After Two Months Adrift at Sea in Rubber Boat - Newsweek

A Russian man who endured more than two months in a small inflatable boat after its engine failed has been rescued from the Sea of Okhotsk, off the coast of Russia.

But officials confirmed on Tuesday that his brother and nephew did not survive the journey and Russian news sources have reported that two bodies were found on board.

The rescue took place on Monday when a fishing vessel located the stranded man off the Kamchatka Peninsula near the North Pacific.

While the survivor has not been named by officials, Russian state media agency, RIA Novosti identified him as 46-year-old Mikhail Pichugin.

His nightmare journey began in early August, when he decided to embark on a whale-watching trip with his 49-year-old brother, Sergei and 15-year-old nephew, Ilya.

According to the news outlet, The Moscow Times, Pichugin and his family set sail from Russia's Khabarovsk region, which is located around 3,700 miles east of Moscow and lies on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.

The group then made their way to the Shantar Islands, which are found off the northwestern shore of the Sea of Okhotsk.

They then set off for Sakhalin Island in the North Pacific on Aug. 9 but went missing, prompting a rescue effort that failed to locate them at that time.

Reports indicate that the three men had very little by way of provisions, including a small food ration and around five gallons of water, when their engine failed.

They were left to drift in one of the coldest seas in East Asia, also known for its unpredictable gales.

The fishing vessel crew that found Pichugin initially mistook the small inflatable boat for debris when it appeared on their radar, according to reports by the Russian news outlet, Komsomolskaya Pravda.

Upon activating their spotlight for a closer look, they were astonished to discover Pichugin, who was recorded on video urgently calling for help.

He shouted: "I have no strength left," while the crew worked to deliver him to safety.

The Moscow Times, quoting the Baza Telegram channel, reported that the bodies of Sergei and Ilya were on board.

Rescuers said Pichugin weighed around 110 pounds when they found him, having lost nearly half his body weight during his ordeal.

Pichugin has not yet disclosed the specific means by which he survived or the circumstances surrounding the deaths of his brother and nephew.

Following the incident, prosecutors initiated an investigation into potential violations of safety regulations that may have contributed to the tragic loss of Pichugin's family members.

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press

Shamim Chowdhury is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. Her focus is on major international breaking news stories, in particular, conflicts, refugees and natural disasters. She has reported on the Syrian war from the frontline, the Ukraine war, the Rohingya refugee crisis and more. She joined Newsweek in 2024. She has an undergraduate degree from Queen Mary, University of London and a masters degree from Birkbeck, University of London. You can get in touch with Shamim by emailing s.chowdhury@newsweek,com. She is fluent in English, Sylheti and Bengali and conversational in Urdu and Hindi.

Shamim Chowdhury is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. Her focus is on major international breaking news stories, in ...Read more