One Man Rescued After 67 Days Adrift [2 Died]

[GordMay]

Adrift in frigid Russian seas, for 67 days, Mikhail Pichugin survived, by drinking rainwater.

A Russian man, was rescued, after 67 days adrift, in the Sea of Okhotsk, in a small inflatable boat,

Mikhail Pichugin, 46, had set off to watch whales, with his 49-year-old brother, and 15-year-old nephew. But, the boat's engine shut down, and then, one of the oars broke, on their way back, on Aug. 9.

Initial efforts, by emergency services, to locate the trio failed. Pichugin's brother and nephew later died. He tied their bodies to the boat, to prevent them from being washed away.

A fishing vessel spotted the boat, this week, and rescued Pichugin, about 11 nautical miles off Kamchatka, near the village of Ust-Khairuzovo, about 1,000 kilometres from its departure point.

[mako]

Wow. I was thinking of taking my inflatable out into Puget Sound this afternoon. Now I'm thinking of staying home with a beer and the heater on

[mbianka]

A reminder of how things can go south fast on the water. I worry about being able to row from the mooring to the dock in windy conditions and getting blown across the harbor if the electric outboard does not work. Can't imagine spending 67 days on an inflatable in the sea.

[Johan Leopard51]

67 days! What is the record? He must have had some means to catch fish. Rainwater was why he survived, cause couple of days no fresh water you are KIA.

[grantmc]

Originally Posted by Johan Leopard51

67 days! What is the record? ...

LMGTFY
https://ioa.factsanddetails.com/article/entry-103.html
Aah 484 days is what Guinness have as the record. A guy called Oguri Jukichi in 1813. But he was not alone.

Solo - There's a number of ways to look at this record. One method would be for survivors like the Russian who started out with companions but they didn't survive in time for a rescue? The other of course is for those who started solo. Some start or end with a landfall. The Rose Noelle for example, 4 guys, ended up crashing the wreck on rocks of a remote part of an island, Was another day before they were 'rescued'.

Funny story, but the other day I delivered a Sea Survival Course for Coastguard here in New Zealand. One of the chaps on the course comes from and grew up in Nantucket, home of the Essex whaleship. For those that don't know the story, have a read, it's fascinating and the book is a real piece of American literature. It also spun the inspiration for Moby Dick.

Was an interesting course and fantastic group of people. But I am dissatisfied with the course, because according to whoever wrote it at Coastguard (it's origins seemed to be either the British Coastguard Service or RYA) presume being 'saved' once you're in the raft. No information at all as to how to survive in the raft.

Modern life, I guess. We push a button cos we're in trouble in a wet orange world. Ten minutes later we hear the reassuring sound of a helicopter sent to save us cos we're so damn special. Which is great cos if they take too long to rescue us we may need to use the bathroom and most people can't afford a liferaft with the on suite option.

And for Geordie - thanks again for the initial posting of the news story!!