Eyewitnesses have claimed that Japanese manga artist Kazuki Takahashi, best known as the creator of “Yu-Gi-Oh!” — died while trying to rescue people from drowning.
A report from Stars and Stripes, a military newspaper disclosed how Takahashi lost his life while trying to save three people who were drowning in a heavy flow.
According to eyewitnesses who saw what happened, Takahashi dove into a riptide in hopes of bringing a woman and her 11-year-old daughter back to shore on July 4.
Major Robert Bourgeau, a 49-year-old U.S. Army officer and scuba diving instructor, also dove into the water to help the people drowning.
He said that he personally did not encounter Takahashi during the rescue mission, although multiple people say they saw the artist attempting to assist.
Bourgeau managed to save the 11-year-old girl and the mother, but when he went to help a 39-year-old U.S. soldier who was also struggling in the water, he feared he would lose his life if he went on any longer.
Fortunately, the diving instructor was able to help yell orders to help the soldier navigate out of the rough waters.
Kazuki’s body was found about 1,000 feet offshore two days later, as he could not get out of the forceful waves alive.
Bourgeau called Takahashi a “hero” … saying, “He died trying to save someone else.”
Bourgeau was nominated for the Soldier’s Medal for his actions, an award given to those who execute heroic acts that do not involve an enemy.
Kazuki was only sixty tears old when he was found dead in the top tide. RIP.
