New details regarding the tragic death of Yu-Gi-Oh! creator Kazuki Takahashi have come to light, revealing that the mangaka drowned while attempting to save the lives of fellow beachgoers who had been caught in a riptide.As reported by Stars and Stripes, 49-year-old U.S. Army officer Maj. Robert Bourgeau has been nominated for the Soldier's Medal after rescuing three people from a riptide at Mermaid's Grotto in Onna, Okinawa on July 4. Unbeknownst to Bourgeau at the time, the 60-year-old Takahashi attempted to aid the rescue before being caught in the riptide himself. "You play that 'what if' game a lot," Bourgeau said. "This guy had a huge impact on the world."

According to a spokesperson for the Japan Coast Guard, Takahashi's body was found two days later, approximately 1,000 feet offshore in Awa, Nago city. Takahashi's rental car was later found at Mermaid's Grotto. While the Coast Guard spokesperson declined to confirm Takahashi's involvement in the rescue attempt, several sworn witness statements provided by the Army confirm the Yu-Gi-Oh! creator's heroic actions.

Bourgeau, a scuba diving instructor, met two students at Mermaid's Grotto on the afternoon of July 4, with the Army officer describing the conditions that day as being "really, really rough." Bourgeau recalls spotting a Japanese woman calling for help, pointing towards her 11-year-old daughter and a 39-year-old U.S. soldier, who had been trapped in a rip current approximately 100 yards offshore. Six-foot waves were apparently crashing on the individuals, causing a whirlpool-like effect.

Bourgeau jumped into the riptide and made a beeline for the girl, but quickly found himself getting exhausted as he tried to return her to shore. He soon encountered her mother, who had somehow been sucked into current as well. "I grabbed mom and I grabbed [the girl] and I just kicked for all life," Bourgeau recalled.

At some point during the ordeal, Takahashi entered the water as well. While Bourgeau did not actually see Takahashi during the rescue itself, his students managed to catch glimpses of the mangaka before he disappeared beneath the crashing waves. "He's a hero," Bourgeau said of the Yu-Gi-Oh! creator. "He died trying to save someone else."

Bourgeau ultimately managed to get the woman and her daughter back to the shallows. He was so fatigued that he ran the risk of drowning himself, and was not able to physically rescue the 39-year-old soldier. However, Bourgeau was able to direct the soldier out of the whirlpool, saving his life as well.

As previously mentioned, Takahashi was found dead off the coast of Nago city in Okinawa, Japan on the morning of July 6. The 60-year-old Japanese icon had been wearing snorkeling gear. At the time, his death was simply believed to be the result of a snorkeling accident, with foul play quickly being ruled out by local authorities.

A beloved figure in the world of manga, anime and tabletop gaming, Takahashi launched the original Yu-Gi-Oh! manga in 1996. The title became a cultural phenomenon, spawning a number of follow-ups, spinoffs, anime series, anime films and, of course, a massively popular trading card game.

Source: Stars and Stripes, via Twitter