The story of a German fallen in the Pacific and surviving drifting through his jeans

The German sailor spent three hours hanging his vest until the rescue team managed to locate him (Video: Facebook @TheLoweCorporationRescueHelicopterTrust)

Arne Murke, a 30-year-old German boy, was rescued from drowning in the icy waters of the South Pacific thanks to his cunning, temperance and especially thanks to your jeans.

After traveling as a tourist to New Zealand, this experienced sailor and his brother, Helge Murke, decided to embark on a trip aboard a sailboat. They would navigate from Oceania to Brazil inside of Wahoo, a ship 12 meters long.

They left on March 5th Tolaga Bay, located east of New Zealand, ready to travel more than 12,000 kilometers separating them from the coasts of South America. But just 30 kilometers from the starting point, what started as a legendary adventure has become a nightmare.

The mainsail rope was released and the botabara hit Arne Murkewho fell into the water. The current quickly led him away from the sailing boat. Although his brother he threw him a lifejacket, the waves of three meters have prevented him from reaching it.

Far from losing control of the situation, the sailor tries to calm down. He thought of his ten-month-old daughter and his image gave him the strength to resist the ravages of the sea.

"While I was in the water, I thought, I can not leave my daughter without a father. It was my biggest motivation, "explained Arne Murke.

The strength of the ocean stifled it and prevented it from staying afloat. Without giving up, he came to take off his trousers and invent with them a makeshift vest. He tied a knot in each leg and inflated it with air. For three painful hours, he clung to his jeans, which prevented him from sinking.

"The waves broke over me and cooled me down, my legs started to shake, I had to pump up my jeans because they had lost some air." I was exhausted and I was sinking. I could not use my arms because I did not want to let go of my jeans"Arne Murke said in an interview to New Zealand Herald.

Since the ship, her brother has alerted the emergency services by radio and has used two emergency beacons for they could locate them on the high seas.

"Without the proper communication devices and tags, things could have turned differently Chris Henshaw, the coordinator of search and rescue operations, said in a statement.

On your Facebook account, The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter Trust He shared a video of the moment they found the wrecked German. In the pictures, you can enjoy the serenity that he has shown during the anguished situation. He had been lost three hours at sea, subject to his jeans.

"Without the pants today, I would not be here. They really saved my life, "said Arne Murke.

For the rescue team, the sailor is a lucky absolute: "He is incredibly lucky to be alive," they wrote in their publication on the social network.

The most scary moment, said the German, was to see the helicopter approaching the point where it was. adrift, for a few minutes after pbading.

"L & # 39; helicopter He was very close to me twicebut they did not see me and they left, "he said.

Arne Murke and his brother are both recovering Gisborne, Northeastern New Zealandwhere they try to forget the great fear they were experiencing.