A Night Stroll Goes Crazy
An evening walk went serious for a 27-year-old Kurashiki man in Okayama Prefecture after he unwittingly lost his mobile phone in the sea. The man had been walking and drinking along Kurashiki Port Bridge on July 27 when he attempted to snap a photo of the scenery at night. In his drunken state, he dropped the phone and without hesitation chose to dive after it.
He dove into the Takahashi River’s mouth, against powerful currents and clear peril. The next few hours were a four-hour struggle for survival, drifting alone in darkness.
“I Just Tried to Stay Afloat”
Following the rescue, the man reported to police that he had initially set out to swim back to shore but soon realized the current was too powerful. “All I could do was attempt my best to float and wait for rescue,” he said.
He remained on his back, saving energy, floating in open water until someone eventually picked up his cries for help. At around 5 a.m., port workers at Mizushima Port, close to the incident location, overheard shouting and noticed a person floating only a metre off the coast.
They phoned emergency responders and tossed out a lifebuoy in anticipation of assistance.
Calmness Saved His Life
The rescuers came quickly and pulled the man out of the water. He had been afloat for four and a half hours but was still alive and stable. He was taken straight to the hospital.
It was highly risky for an inebriated person to plunge into the sea, much less close to the mouth of a river that has currents. But because he remained calm and floated on his back, it probably was able to save him.
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Social Media Responds With Humor and Amazement
The tale spread like wildfire on China’s social media after being posted by the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald. Most were amazed the man survived. “Floating for four hours? That’s impressive,” said one. Some said alcohol was the actual hero of the tale.
And, of course, the internet’s favorite question also arose: “But did he find the phone?”
There is still no news regarding the recovery of the phone but the man’s survival story has certainly created waves.
