Woman survives 36‑hour sea ordeal thanks to buoy rescue
Japanese authorities have reported that a woman was found 80 kilometres from the coast after drifting at sea for approximately 36 hours. Floating on the water with the aid of a buoy, she covered over 250 kilometres during that time.
11 July 2024 16:24
The Japanese coast guard launched a search operation immediately after receiving a notification of the disappearance of a 20-year-old Chinese national in Shizuoka Prefecture, located on the eastern coast of Honshu Island. The woman's acquaintance reported the disappearance on Monday evening.
36-hour ordeal
The woman was found early in the morning on Wednesday, 10 July, on the southern tip of the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo. According to a Japanese official, the 20-year-old was rescued by the crew of a passing cargo ship. The group also informed the rescue services.
The rescued woman told the rescuers that waves swept her away, and she could not return to shore. Thanks to the buoy she had with her, she stayed afloat for so long. Without the buoy, she might not have been able to stay afloat for so long, and the story could have ended tragically.
It is estimated that the distance between the place where the woman was found and the shore was around 80 kilometres. However, the distance she travelled is much greater. In a straight line between Shizuoka and Chiba Prefectures, it's over 250 kilometres.
A happy ending
After being found, the Chinese woman was immediately taken to the hospital. The woman was fortunate. She survived despite the danger of sunstroke during the day, hypothermia at night, or being hit by a ship. Moreover, after being checked by doctors, it turned out that the 20-year-old's health was not in any danger. She was only dehydrated.
