The sudden death of Kazuki Takahashi, creator of Yu-Gi-Oh! shocked the world back in July. At the time, Takahashi was recorded as having drowned by officials, but a report published yesterday by the US military newspaper, Stars and Stripes, revealed that Takahashi died while trying to save three drowning swimmers caught in a riptide.
The report says that on July 4, Maj. Robert Bourgeau, with the help of two of his students, rescued three people who were caught in a strong riptide in Mermaid's Grotto, a famous diving spot in Ena Village, Okinawa. During the rescue, Takahashi also entered the water to try to help Bourgeau. Bourgeau himself did not see Takahashi, but his students saw Takahashi jump into the sea and disappear beneath the waves.
Army Maj. Robert Bourgeau points to the spot where he rescued three people from a riptide over the summer at Mermaid's Grotto
"He's a hero," Bourgeau said of Takahashi. "He died trying to save someone else. This guy had a huge impact on the world."
Source: Stars and Stripes