The story of Mikhail Pichugin, aged 45, is about his remarkable survival after being stranded at sea for 67 days following engine failure during a whale-watching trip on a Russian trawler. He was found alive while clinging to a rubber dinghy holding the bodies of his deceased brother and nephew who had perished during the expedition. Rescuers spotted him wearing an orange life vest and signaling for help in the darkness. Despite losing 50 kilograms, Mikhail is now in stable condition after being rescued by the crew of the fishing vessel Angel. Initially mistaken for debris, he was discovered by the crew and promptly taken to an emergency care unit for treatment for dehydration and hypothermia.

Mikhail, his brother, and nephew had set out to the remote Shantar Islands, known for whale sightings, in early August. However, they vanished on their return trip to Okha on Sakhalin Island, prompting a search and rescue operation. Despite carrying supplies for two weeks, such as food, warm clothing, life jackets, flares, and water, their engine failure led to their disappearance. The exact circumstances of Mikhail's survival in the harsh East Asian sea remain a mystery.Fortunately, At survived the storms while his brother and nephew tragically did not. Local media have reported that the local prosecutor's office is conducting a preliminary criminal investigation into the deaths. Additionally, Mikhail may be at risk of imprisonment since Russian law prohibits his boat from venturing more than two nautical miles from the shore.