In July, the world discovered of the unhappy passing of Kazuki Takahashi, the creator of Yu-Gi-Oh! At the time his dying was recorded by officers as a drowning, however a latest report from the US navy’s newspaper has supplied some further particulars not identified on the time.

A narrative on Stars & Stripes, the Department of Defence’s personal information service, experiences {that a} “U.S. Army officer [has been] recognized for rescuing three people from a riptide at a popular Okinawa dive spot in an episode that apparently killed a well-known Japanese manga artist”.

The officer, 49 year-old Major Robert Bourgeau, has been advisable for a Soldier’s Medal for his actions on July 4, which occurred at Mermaid’s Grotto within the village of Onna, Okinawa. Bourgeau reportedly noticed three swimmers—two Japanese civilians and a fellow US soldier—struggling in a harmful riptide, and whereas “still wearing his running shoes” raced out to rescue them.

The S&S report says that whereas the riptide alone was harmful sufficient, six-foot waves crashing amongst it shortly induced a whirlpool impact, which started sucking within the stranded swimmers.

Bourgeau—a educated scuba diving teacher—was in a position to deliver each civilians to shore, after which direct the US soldier to security as effectively. During the rescue, nevertheless, “several sworn witness statements provided by the Army” say Takahashi additionally jumped in to assist, however onlookers solely “caught glimpses of him until he disappeared beneath the waves.”

“He’s a hero”, Bourgeau advised Stars & Stripes. “He died trying to save someone else.”

Takahashi’s physique was discovered by the Japanese Coast Guard the subsequent day floating off the coast of Nago, a metropolis within the northern a part of Okinawa. His automotive was later found parked at Mermaid’s Grotto.