Tsunami victim Hiromitsu Shinkawa, 65, waves to rescuers who spotted him floating on the roof of his home nearly 10 miles out to sea. Photograph: AP Posted on 03/13/2011 9:01:55 AM PDT by GVnana
Tsunami victim Hiromitsu Shinkawa, 65, waves to rescuers who spotted him floating on the roof of his home nearly 10 miles out to sea. Photograph: AP
A 65-year-old man has been found on the roof of his floating house nearly 10 miles out at sea, two days after the tsunami that devastated the north-east coast of Japan.
Hiromitsu Shinkawa must have resigned himself to his fate when he was swept away by the retreating tsunami that roared ashore in his home town of Minami Soma in Fukushima prefecture.
As the wave approached, Shinkawa took the fateful decision to return home to collect belongings. Minutes later he was out at sea clinging to a piece of the roof from his own home.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
condolences on the loss of your dear friend. Sounds like he was a very special and good person.
He was picked up by a JASDF patrol boat, who lowered a motor whaleboat to transfer him to the larger boat.
Lots of cellphone cameras on board.
Ever seen a Jap tourist??? They take pictures of EVERYTHING.
I don’t even want to think about what he may have witnessed.
10 miles out...and take a look at all that debris....I sure hope most people got out of their houses before the water hit.
Thanks for sharing that with us....good friends are priceless as you just stated. Awesome lifes journey Ted had.
You stay safe my friend....
incredible story. Glad you are here to tell it.
On the other hand, going back to the house may have saved his life. If he was out in the open, he would have been killed immediately. Being in the house apparently gave him protection from the initial surge and then gave him a raft to cling to.
Surreal
What a fortunate man.
Just look at that debris 10 miles out! If you weren’t told, you’d think that was a couple hundred yards offshore, but not 10 miles. That is incredible.
If he does the media circuit; I bet someone in our press will refer to him as "Roof Man". - Tom
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