Rescue and Survival
Mikhail Pichugin, 46, was rescued after spending over two months in the aboard an inflatable boat, following an engine failure during a whale-watching trip with his brother and nephew, who did not survive.
Pichugin, significantly emaciated and weighing half of his original body weight, was found by the fishing vessel off the . An investigation into safety rule violations leading to the deaths has been initiated.
Journey and Outcome
The trio set off for the in early August, but contact was lost after they began their return to Sakhalin Island on August 9. They had a limited supply of food and water when adrift.
The survivor's wife described his condition as serious but expressed relief at his miraculous survival. Experts and local officials have been astonished by the survival story, considering the harsh conditions of the Sea of Okhotsk.