Russian rescued after 67 days adrift in cold Sea of ​​Okhotsk describes his ordeal

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian saved after 67 days adrift in a small inflatable boat in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk described Wednesday how he survived by battling the cold and drinking rainwater.

Mikhail Pichuguine, 46, had gone whale watching with his 49-year-old brother and his 15-year-old nephew. But the boat’s engine stopped on the return trip on August 9.

Initial efforts by emergency services to locate the trio were unsuccessful. Pichugin’s brother and nephew later died and he tied their bodies to the boat to prevent them from being swept away by the waters.

A fishing boat spotted the boat this week and rescued Pichugin about 11 nautical miles off Kamchatka, about 1,000 kilometers (about 540 nautical miles) from where it started.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday from his hospital bed, Pichugin described how the boat’s engine failed and then one of the oars broke, sending the boat out of control.

The phone on board was useless as there was no network coverage, but the trio used it for geolocation for a week until the phone’s battery and a power bank ran out. They tried in vain to attract the attention of rescuers with the few flares they had.

“A helicopter flew over closely, then another after three days, but they were useless,” Pichugin said in remarks broadcast by Russian state television.

He said they were collecting rainwater and struggling to keep warm on the sea off eastern Russia.

“There was a camel wool sleeping bag, it was wet and wouldn’t dry,” he explained. “You crawl under it, move around a little and get warm.”

They had a limited supply of noodles and peas and were trying to catch fish.

Russian media quoted Pichugin as saying his nephew died of hypothermia and starvation in September. His brother began behaving erratically and at one point attempted to jump off the boat.

Pichuguine said he had survived “thanks to the help of God”, adding quietly: “I simply had no choice, I had left my mother and daughter at home.”

Doctors at Magadan Hospital said he was suffering from dehydration and hypothermia but his condition was stable.