Boy, 3, Found Alone In Washed Up Boat Day After Parents Disappear On Lake
A three-year-old boy has survived drifting alone for a day after his parents somehow fell out of the motorised dinghy they were travelling in during a storm.
After the boy was found when the dinghy drifted close to shore on Lake Khanka in the far-eastern Russian region of Primorsky Krai, bordering with North Korea, a search was organised for his parents.
The bodies of his dad Andrey Savochkin, 41, and his mum Christina Podareva, 31, were only recovered later.
The child identified only by his first name Fedya has reportedly told his gran that his parents drowned in front him, and the last words of his mother were to advise on what to do until rescuers turned up.
While it remains unclear what happened to the family on the lake and how the three-year-old boy managed to survive, it is believed his mother’s last words had enabled him to keep safe until he was spotted.
It is also believed that one of the boy’s parents managed to get him to turn off the boat’s engine after being thrown into the water during the storm and being unable to get back on board.
The couple has been described as experienced anglers who instilled a love for water activities in their son from birth.
The boy was found unconscious and alone in the motorised dinghy about a day after being separated from his parents.
A preliminary investigation found that the parents probably fell out of the vessel and drowned in front of their son, adding that it was a miracle he survived.
One theory is that the boat struck something while travelling at high speed and the parents were thrown overboard, unable to get back onboard due to the severe storm they may have been trying to flee from.
The bodies were reportedly recovered today (Wednesday).
Meanwhile, the boy reportedly came to his senses in hospital after being admitted unconscious.
The news site NTV said he is not yet willing to speak, but managed to tell his grandmother a few things.
Family friend Dmitry Ivanov said: “It seems like he saw his mother waving her arms around while she was drowning, asking him to press a button. As I understand it, she was asking him to turn off the engine.”
The investigation continues.
