### Russian Man Survives 66 Days Adrift at Sea, Loses Brother and Nephew

In an extraordinary tale of endurance and tragedy, Russian man Mikhail Pichugin survived over two months adrift in the icy seas on an inflatable boat—a grueling ordeal that claimed the lives of his brother Sergei Pichugin and nephew Ilya. Authorities discovered Pichugin on Monday, having lost significant weight during the ordeal.

Mikhail, his brother Sergei, and his 15-year-old nephew Ilya embarked on their ill-fated journey from the Khabarovsk region to Sakhalin island on an inflatable catamaran on August 9. Their vessel was found floating approximately 1,000 kilometers from its starting point by a fishing boat in the Sea of Okhotsk around 10 PM on Monday, 66 days after setting sail.

Reports noted that Pichugin’s initial 100kg (220lb) build may have contributed to his survival. His wife, Yekaterina, mentioned that by the time rescuers found him, he had reduced to a startling 50kg. The catamaran was still carrying the bodies of his brother Sergei and nephew Ilya when the fishing boat encountered them.

The men had only packed enough food and water for two weeks, which sparked a massive search operation involving helicopters and planes shortly after they disappeared. Rescuers suspected their boat might have drifted towards Kamchatka.

Pichugin was brought to the city of Magadan, where he was taken off the fishing boat on a stretcher. Medical officials described his condition as "more or less stable" and suspected he might have suffered from hypothermia.

Transport police have initiated an investigation into potential breaches of safety regulations, meaning Pichugin might face criminal charges that could result in a prison sentence of up to seven years.

The grim sequence of events on the boat saw young Ilya succumb first, about a month into their drift, followed by Sergei. Mikhail had to tie their bodies to the boat and hung their lifejackets on the side, hoping to attract attention.

The Pichugin brothers hailed from Ulan-Ude in Siberia. While Mikhail was working as a driver on Sakhalin island, he had invited his brother and nephew for a visit, planning a sea trip to spot whales. This was meant to be a joyful family excursion, but it turned into an unimaginable nightmare.

Reflecting on other survival stories, an expert mentioned that in 1960, four Soviet soldiers survived 49 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean before being rescued by the US aircraft carrier Kearsarge. This historic reference underscores both the peril and endurance of those lost at sea.