I am sure this guy never thought that his swimming skills would safe his wife’s life, but they did. Here’s an amazing story that inspired me. It’s not about training, but it is about the human spirit and determination. I hope that none of us are ever faced with this situation but I hope that we would use the strength we have gained in training, the perseverance we demonstrate in the water, and the courage that hides in all of us to save the people we loved.

After the tsunami struck, Hideaki Akaiwa, terrified that his wife is in danger, gets hold of a wetsuit, scuba gear, fins, a knife and drives back to his submerged city, determined to find his wife. He dives into the water:

Hideaki maintained his composure and navigated his way through the submerged city, finally tracking down his old house. He quickly swam through to find his totally-freaked-out wife, alone and stranded on the upper level of their house, barely keeping her head above water. He grabbed her tight, and presumably sharing his rebreather with her, dragged her out of the wreckage to safety. She survived. But Hideaki Akaiwa still wasn’t done yet…
Hideaki’s mother also lived in Ishinomaki, and she was still unaccounted for…

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