A Japanese surfer has saved his wife's life in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan.
Hideaki Akaiwa, a 43-year-old wave rider, put on his wetsuit and scuba equipment and tried to find the place where his love of 20 years was, in the middle of chaos, destruction and debris.
The water was cold, but Akaiwa managed to swim to her and rescued his wife. "The water felt very cold, dark and scary," he told the Los Angeles Times. "I had to swim about 200 yards to her, which was quite difficult with all the floating wreckage."
Hideaki met his girl in the 90's when he was surfing a local spot. But there's more. After locating his wife, Akaiwa rescued his mother trapped in her flooded house.
Since then, our Japanese surfer hero hasn't stopped. Hideaki Akaiwa continues to look after those who may be surviving in desperate conditions, with almost nothing to eat and drink.
Congratulations to Hideaki Akaiwa and all his family. World surfers are proud of having a friend and partner with this sense of altruism and love.