Image Credit: Associated Press (AP) This is the account of Mikhail Pichugin, aged 45, who was discovered alive after 67 days following an incident where the engine of the Russian trawler he was on failed during a doomed whale-watching trip. Reports from local media indicate that he was found aboard a rubber dinghy, clutching the bodies of his deceased brother and nephew from the ill-fated expedition. In a video released by East2West Media Group, he can be seen wearing an orange life jacket, signaling for help in the darkness and informing rescuers of his weakened state. Mikhail was rescued during the night and brought onto the fishing vessel Angel by its crew. Despite losing 50 kilograms, he is said to be in a stable condition.

Initially mistaking the small inflatable boat for debris, the crew members of the fishing vessel decided to investigate further and were astonished to discover Pichugin. He was swiftly taken to an emergency care unit at Magadan hospital. While he is reported to be suffering from dehydration and hypothermia, his overall condition is considered stable.

According to reports, Mikhail, along with his 49-year-old brother and 15-year-old nephew, had set out for the remote Shantar Islands in early August, which are well-known as a feeding spot for whales, off the northwest coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. However, they went missing on their return journey to the city of Okha on Sakhalin Island on August 9. After the family reported their disappearance, local authorities launched a search and rescue operation. Despite a month-long search yielding no results and being called off due to the assumption that surviving the storms was impossible, Mikhail was eventually discovered.

The Russian state-run news agency, RIA Novosti, reported that the men had taken provisions for two weeks, warm clothing, life jackets, flares, and about five gallons of water with them. The failure of their engine is believed to be the reason for their predicament at sea.

The details of how Mikhail managed to survive in the frigid waters of East Asia, as well as the conclusion of the story, remain unknown.Although At escaped the storms without being swept away and did not suffer the same fate as his brother and nephew, local media reports indicate that the local prosecutor's office is conducting a preliminary criminal investigation into their deaths. Additionally, Mikhail may potentially be sentenced to jail time, as Russian law prohibits his boat from traveling more than two nautical miles from the shore.