The death of Yu-Gi-Oh! inventor Kazuki Takahashi in July stunned the anime and TCG communities. Although his death by drowning was confirmed by a coast guard investigation, numerous mysteries remained.
The details of Kazuki Takahashi’s death have now been revealed by Stripes. A woman was heard screaming for assistance that fateful day at Mermaid’s Grotto in Onna, Okinawa, while her 11-year-old daughter and a 39-year-old American soldier were caught in a rip current approximately 100 yards from shore.
Creator Kazuki Takahashi Reportedly Drowned Trying to Save Child
When the mother was swept away by the whirlpool’s six-foot waves, scuba diving instructor and deputy operations officer for the 10th Support Group at Torii Station in Yomitan Major Robert Bourgeau came upon the two in need of assistance. It was at this point when Bourgeau, shoes and all, leaped in to rescue the others. “I grabbed mum and I grabbed [the girl] and I simply kicked for all life,” he told the media.
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After getting the two of them to safety, he explains with regret that he couldn’t go back for the soldier because he was too exhausted to risk drowning in the waves. As painful as it was, I had to make the choice to let [the guy] go in order to preserve myself. For his bravery, Bourgeau was posthumously presented with the Soldier’s Medal.
The 60-year-old inventor of Yu-Gi-Oh! went in to aid Bourgeau, and Bourgeau’s pupils saw him just before he was swept away by the waves. The role that Takahashi played in the plot was explained in further detail by Bourgeau “This man deserves the title of hero. He sacrificed himself to rescue another.”