We lost a real legend.
While Yu-Gi-Oh creator Kazuki Takahashi’s death was reported way back in July of this year, the details were a bit fuzzy, aside from the fact that he had drowned. Now, according to a US military news outlet, we have a more complete picture.
The story comes from Stars and Stripes. On July 4th, Major Robert Bourgeau of the 10th Support Group at Torii Station spotted a woman calling for help for her 11-year-old daughter and a US Soldier. The woman’s daughter and the soldier had been caught in a ripcurent while snorkeling around 100 meters offshore.
Borgeau and his students went in to rescue the pair. They were able to rescue the girl and her mother, who had also by that point been swept into the current, while the soldier was able to make it to shore on his own.
Unbeknownst to Borgeau, though, he had an extra helper; Kazukio Takahashi. The 60-year-old manga artist had leapt in to aid the rescue effort. While Borgeau didn’t catch sight of Takahasi, his students did on multiple occasions. At some point in all the confusion, though, he got lost beneath the waves, not surfacing until his remains were discovered days later 1000 feet offshore of Awa, Nago city in Okinawa. His rental car was later found near Mermaid’s Grotto, according to a Japan Coast Guard spokesman.
While the Japan Coast Guard didn’t corroborate the report, Stars And Stripes states that “his actions that day are detailed in several sworn witness statements provided by the Army.”
Of Takahashi, Borgeau said:
“He’s a hero,” Bourgeau said of Takahashi. “He died trying to save someone else.”
Major Robert Bourgeau
Borgeau earned the Soldier’s Medal for his actions that day.
Rip currents (occasionally erroneously called rip tides, which are similar but occur under different circumstances) are among the most dangerous conditions for swimmers, accounting for over 100 deaths yearly in the U.S. alone, and comprising 80% of all rescues.
Source: PC Gamer
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