A husband and wife were rescued on Friday in Higashiomi, Shiga Prefecture, 12 days after their car went off a cliff and plunged 25 meters into a swamp.
Police said the couple, who are from Aichi Prefecture, survived for 12 days by drinking the vitamin rich marsh water until rescue crews located them, TV Asahi reported Saturday.
According to police, a man who happened to be driving along the road near the swamp saw the 65-year-old husband crawling out of the marsh on Friday morning. He said his 76-year-old wife was still inside the car which was partially submerged and not visible from the road above. Rescue crews arrived shortly afterward and rescued the woman.
Police said the couple had been driving along a road at around 7 p.m. on Nov 12 when they suddenly spotted something moving on the road. After swerving to try and avoid impact, the car crashed through a barrier and plunged into the swamp.
Stranded, they survived by drinking marsh water they collected in plastic bottles. They had no cell phone with which they could call for help. The man said he got out of the car a few times and tried to find help but gave up and went back to stay with his wife inside the car, TV Asahi reported.
Police said the couple was taken to the hospital, but had suffered no major injuries.
© Japan Today
19 Comments
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StormR
Amazing story and lucky to have been found alive.
smithinjapan
Agree... pretty amazing story and they are lucky to be alive.
CraigHicks
Was the swamp heated?
CrazyJoe
Good they were safe in this cold weather.
garymalmgren
survived for 12 days by drinking the vitamin rich marsh water
If someone (Coca-Cloa?) bottles that stuff there is a fortune to be made.
FightingViking
At last a "Happy Ending" to what could have been a tragic story ! Thanks JT ! I really needed that !
Ranger_Miffy2
Hope they buy a cell phone before going anywhere next time!
Maria
What a scary and wonderful story! So glad they're ok.
ookami
I'll need a picture; I can't imagine that.
Novenachama
An average person could live for about eight weeks on water alone, give or take about a week for an overweight or underweight person respectively.
Serrano
Whew!
wildwest
I have too many questions about this story.
trinklets2
Not an expert about shiga Ken, but is the place Higashimoi or Higashiomi?
AkariYoshida
Praise God they are safe !
gelendestrasse
Glad they made it through the ordeal. Not looking forward to "Marsh Water" in vending machines next to Pochari Sweat though....
Carcharodon
And no one bothered at all to investigate a barrier that was suddenly broken? talk about apathy! At the very least report it to the cops and then it will hopefully be investigated. What a survival story though, I expect it will be reenacted for Japanese variety TV.
Hushpuppy
I am very impressed with this elderly couple for having the stamina and strength to survive this ordeal. I am happy for them. Very good story.
WilliB
Wow, 12 days! That is quite a story. They both must be pretty tough to survive this.
DudeDeuce
But surviving a 25m plunge and being 76 is not your average story. Great great story.