Quake Victim Saved From Rooftop That Floated Ten Miles Out to Sea
- Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:39am by
Scott Baker
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TOKYO (AP) — Hiromitsu Shinkawa was pushed out to sea while he clung to the roof of his home after a tsunami swept away his wife. For two days, he drifted off Japan’s northeastern coast, trying to get the attention of helicopters and ships that passed by — to no avail.
Finally, on Sunday, a Japanese military vessel spotted the 60-year-old waving a red cloth. He was about 15 kilometers (about 10 miles) offshore from the earthquake-ravaged city of Minamisoma, said Yoshiyuki Kotake, a Defense Ministry spokesman.
Shinkawa told his rescuers that the tsunami hit as he and his wife returned home to gather some belongings after Friday’s quake. His wife was swept away, Kotake said.
“Several helicopters and ships passed by, but none of them noticed me,” he was quoted by another defense agency spokesman, who refused to be identified by name, as saying.
Japanese troops used a small boat to pluck him from the ocean.
Military officials said Shinkawa was lucky that mild weather and relatively calm seas enabled him to stay afloat for nearly two days, the Kyodo news agency reported.
“I thought today was the last day of my life,” it quoted him as saying.
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Comments (74)
oneyejack
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 2:42pmYou will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Report Post »Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and EARTHQUAKES in various places.
All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Matthew 24:6-8
KOCHLEFFEL
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 3:01pmOneyejack, Matthew is tzetummelt.
Report Post »KOCHLEFFEL
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 2:32pmI read a lot of praying,how about donating money,that is whats needed. Praying is optional.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 2:20pmLet’s step up America! This is a perfect time for US to do what we do best, HELP THOSE IN NEED!
Report Post »Tnredneck
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 2:33pmAmen rightpollitically! And scienceisnoevil need not apply
Report Post »jim belanger
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 2:14pmWhat? He was found stranded on his roof? Well than this had to have been Bush’s fault. Case closed!
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 1:46pmIf anyone has been 10 miles offshore in the ocean, you know how incredibly far that is. Prayers. Our hearts are broken for others not so lucky. When he gets to shore, he may find he’s lost loved ones. So many situations to deal with. Prayers.
Report Post »BGR38
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 1:24pmThat poor ,poor man. May he find some peace!!!
Report Post »tlewis
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 1:02pmWith all of our evil, communist, uncaring in Wis protesting, wouldn’t it had been wonderful if they cared enough about someone other then themselves and donated the protesting costs to the hungry, injured, shelterless, exposure to radiation, and those families who haven’t found their missing loved ones.The communist evil unions, their protesters, supporters of protesters, JJ and his money grabbers, wouldn’t give a nickel to those in need. We now know how evil all of you who want more, more, more, give none, give none. Wear your badge of disgrace with honor!
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 1:09pmImagine how much MONEY that little Union dog and pony show has cost so far? That would go a long way, for sure…
Report Post »dumbblond
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 2:01pmAmen!!1
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 2:21pmRight on the money!
Report Post »Tnredneck
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 2:30pmWhile us conservatives are praying and giving to the red cross and donating other goods the mod scene continues in Wisconsin. Very disturbing
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:43pmI just heard you can text to the following to give $10.00 to these poor people. It’s the Red Cross.
Report Post »http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_nolnav_text2help
psychokittis
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:39pmIt’s always heartening to see a miracle like that
Report Post »Afungi
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:38pmHaving been on both sides of a rescue, at 12 I was saved by the Coast Guard from a disabled boat and I have worked with Mountain search and rescue in Colorado. Spotting anyone from the air in that situation is a mind boggling miracle. Seeing one person in thousands of square miles of wreckage and not die of exposure a miracle.
Report Post »flagbearer
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:25pmI hope he has other family who can care for and comfort him. Many prayers go out to the people of Japan. As resilient as they are, they still need our prayers and help. I think it is the only one good thing about today’s globalization: countries/cultures do tend to help one another more in time of disasters, even though I feel America gives the most with little in return other than criticism–not that we do it to have returns. We do it because we know it is right.
Report Post »Seawolf
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:23pmMILITARYBRAT, The USS Reagan is on station off the coast of Japan as is her carrier group and several other support ships. I’m sure there are other countries getting involved like South Korea, Britatin, Australia, etc.
Report Post »For all the politics and in fighting that goes on around our planet the one saving grace for a catastrophe like this is it forces people to put their differences aside for at least a little while to work toward a common goal which is helping a fellow human being.
kickagrandma
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:22pmIndeed~~~ miracles on the way, people!
GOD BLESS AND PROTECT.
May HE give us love for one another and the courage to stand in the face of the enemy, wherever we encounter the enemy be it an it/him/her.
Report Post »sbenard
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:20pmHe or his family must have been living their lives right. Their prayers didn’t begin the day he disappeared. And Heaven was listening!
Report Post »fgw32909
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:14pmDon’t give up hope & faith…. You never know. He make it back to shore & find his wife waiting for him or maybe even looking for him. God works in very mysterious ways that neither you nor I can begin to fathom. Ya never know….
Report Post »Just some words of faith from yer ‘ol uncle Frank….
DADA
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:08pmHow sad for this man to have seen his wife swept away by the tsunami. Then how fortunate to have survived himself. It is good to hear such tales of survival after such a horrible natural disaster.
Report Post »Mainer forever
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:54amOne miracle. Pray for more.
Report Post »Desert Dog
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:54amI bet he was glad he wasn’t in the Gulf of Mexico. He would have had to pay a fine cause his roof boat wasn’t registered.
Report Post »mill
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:13pmhahaha….sorry a little levity in all the mire of a tragedy..
Report Post »although..the “levity” is probably true…
enufznuf
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:53amI hope to hear many stories like this…The people of Japan have all of our prayers.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:51amI am glad that he survived his ordeal, sorry about his wife and that his house was destroyed. I pray that they find more people alive and unhurt as the days go on. Pray for them.
Report Post »Jezreel
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:50amReminds me of the scripture in Matthew 24:17 & 18 Jesus said to not return to your house to take anything out, not even your clothes.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:19pm@JEZREEL ~~~ Absolutely!
GOD is working miracles we haven’t even seen yet. PRAY ON, AMERICA!
Japan needs our prayers, our help, our sacrifice right now, not “when it’s convenient”.
Report Post »Cesium
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 10:28pmahh nice thoughts…. whatever floats your boat to make your brain feel better…I’m a libertarian but I claim this as more proof that if god does exist, he’s a real a-hole…
Report Post »Bronco II
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:47amMiracles will abound behond our wildest dreams.GOD is there don’t doubt it for one minute.
Report Post »ScienceIsNotEvil
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 2:17pmToo bad God wasn’t their for all those other thousands who got killed.
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 10:52pmMaybe it was their time to meet whatever God they believe in. Or, if you prefer not to believe in a God, Mother Earth was just purging herself of what she doesn’t need? It doesn’t matter. Why punch someone for their beliefs? What we all should be doing is thanking whatever God, or science, or whatever you do or do not believe in, that You and I are not living this nightmare. I choose to believe in a God. It doesn’t matter which one. But the one I pray to, I pray for the lives lost and the ones who have to deal with this and those who have to pick up the pieces and go on living. May my God have mercy on them.
Report Post »G man
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 1:16pmBelieves he goes back into the earth to be reborn as a tree. Which will be cut down, ground into paper and turned into a bible. Karma
Report Post »jamesbrnhll
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:44amImagine yourself in his position; not easily fathomed, but still appalling.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:55pmThat is a situation that is just too hard to imagine – I think I would have probably given up. 10 miles out! Unbelievable – God be with that gentleman! http://wp.me/pYLB7-JM
Report Post »Big Mickey
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:43amSmall miracles amongst large tragedies.
Report Post »freeus
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 11:42amThis is such a tragedy. God help the people of Japan.
Report Post »MilitaryBrat
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:03pmIt’s amazing how many miracles are found within tradgedies. I love that as soon as he was rescued they gave him a blanket and what looks like Pepsi. It’s the rescue drink of choice!
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:08pmI pray this is just the beginning of many miracles – life and death in one fell swoop.
Report Post »MilitaryBrat
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:19pmI suppose soda is one of the few safe drinking fluids they can offer at the moment. Do we know if we‘ve sent any naval carriers over for relief and how many we’ve sent?
Report Post »WireWizard
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:26pmThe USS Ronald Reagan is there, among others. The Reagan is serving as refueling platform for all the rescue choppers as well as providing direct support
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:41pmMilitarybrat,
Read this Blaze article: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/american-troops-arrive-to-aid-in-japan-search-rescue-recovery/
Report Post »MilitaryBrat
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:51pmThank you. I’ve been out of the media loop.
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 1:00pmI’m gonna pray but who should I pray too….
My God who allow this to happen or Their god …Who is undoubtedly crying now.
sissykatz
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 1:01pmI pray for all these people of Japan for what they have gone thru and what they are still facing. Praying that the nuclear plant gets cooled down and not have another horrific event. Just imagine going thru one of the most horrible earthquakes of all time then one of the largest tsunamis and facing possible nuclear fallout.God help these poor people stay stong. Just a reminder of how things can be fine one day and the next your whole world is turned upside down.I know we will see many many more miracles, God is good.
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 1:09pmFour distilling units enable engineers to make over 400,000 gallons of fresh water a day, for use by the propulsion plants, catapults and crew.
The Food Services Department provides 18,000-20,000 meals a day.
The Nimitz can stock at least 70 days of refrigerated and dry storage goods.
Six doctors, including a general surgeon, provide everything from surgery to hydro-therapy. The ship also has five dentists.
The Nimitz also features a 53-bed hospital ward, a three bed ICU, and acts as the hospital ship for the entire Nimitz battle group.
Three chaplains conduct daily religious services in an interdenominational chapel.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 1:09pmThat could be canned water. I believe Pepsi canned drinking water during Hurricane Floyd, when the eastern half of North Carolina was virtually under water.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 1:14pm@MAULEMALL
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 1:00pm
I’m gonna pray but who should I pray too….
My God who allow this to happen or Their god …Who is undoubtedly crying now.
Report Post »~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
Bellonatus
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 1:21pmA micro-brewery in Naka-shi (near Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture) is bottling water to distribute to survivors. It’s really great to know that people are pulling together to help each other in crisis. I only hope that Tepco can get ahead of the nuclear aspect of this crisis so that recovery and rebuilding can safely begin.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 1:50pmHighfructose helps the body to obsorb water. I would hope that he’ll be getting plenty of water to chase down that Pepsi. Too much soda isn’t good.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 1:51pmIf you’re trying to diet (too Fat), stop drinking the soda.
Report Post »rcw_68
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 2:58pmI am so sick of people BLAMING God for disasters. He may allow things to happen but it doesn‘t mean he doesn’t care. There is an eb and flow to nature, some things good and some things bad. God allows things like this to happen to remind us that sooner or later WE WILL MEET HIM, and we BETTER be prepared.
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 4:05pmShowtime
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 1:14pm
@MAULEMALL
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 1:00pm
I’m gonna pray but who should I pray too….
My God who allow this to happen or Their god …Who is undoubtedly crying now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
Report Post »
Please don’t tell God they are mostly Bhuddists….
He probably won’t care as much since they put theirs above him…
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 4:21pmrcw_68
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 2:58pm
I am so sick of people BLAMING God for disasters. He may allow things to happen but it doesn‘t mean he doesn’t care. There is an eb and flow to nature, some things good and some things bad. God allows things like this to happen to remind us that sooner or later WE WILL MEET HIM, and we BETTER be prepared.
Report Post »
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Nobody is blaming God… It’s just that The Japoneese as a people understand more than any that Stuff Happens.
All they really need is the tools to start over and us to not get in the way..
So getting on your knees to pray to a God they don’t believe in seems more than a little stupid..
Especially when all they want is a freakin meal and some water… Maybe a fire to keep the freezing night air down..
You want to do something for Them then go into your pocket and send them something they need.
Then Pray for yourself that in the future you aren’t quite as selfish.
Report Post »MilitaryBrat
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 7:03pm@Maulemall – I’m confused at what point you are trying to make in your posts. Do you not believe in prayer? Or do you believe prayer is only good if you pray for people who believe in the same God as you do? And who precisely is being selfish on here and how? Oh, and thank you for the run down on what US Naval Carriers provide. That’s good info.
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 12:32amI pray for thanks..
Thats it..
Thank you god for this meal. Thank you God for this Glorious day.
Thank you god for the strength and the will.
When I give I don‘t want to hear Thank You and when I don’t I don’t want to be asked why.
The only reason these good “Christians” pray is to make themselves feel better about themselves.
Not a one “Humble ” in the eyes of God.
Look at me… I am going to pray.
As If Their God has forsaken them but Mine will save the day..
Report Post »SonOfaCommunist
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:29pmYeeeehhaaaa, US to the rescue! I wonder if/when something like this happens to us who will come to our aid…. I think Texas would come to our aid, they seem like nice people.
Report Post »