Sea Legs

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Tourist lost at sea for 3 hours says a pair of JEANS saved his life after he turned it into a life jacket

A german tourist claims that a pair of jeans saved his life after he was stranded at sea for three hours.

Arne Murke managed to turn the jeans into a makeshift life jacket after he was knocked into the water off the coast of New Zealand.

Arne was sailing a 12m yacht with his brother Helge when they met rough conditions at sea on March 6 according to Herald on Sunday.

Due to strong winds just off the coast of Tolaga Bay, the boom of the boat (where the main sail is attached) swung round and knocked him off the vessel.

According to Arne, he was initially tangled in some ropes and was dragged under water.

And because of the rough weather, when he managed to get free, he was already too far from the boat when his brother threw down a life jacket.

The motor of the yacht then exploded, which meant that his brother had no way of reaching him.

Arne was suddenly stranded at sea with no lifesaving equipment.

Fortunately, the quick-thinking 30-year-old remembered a trick used by Navy Seals.

He told Herald on Sunday: "I saw it many years ago and I always thought if I ever go overboard without a life jacket I'm going to do that."

Arne took off his jeans in the water and tied knots into the legs.

He then managed to inflate the jeans and push the waist under the water to create a life vest.

But even with the jeans, the rough water made survival a struggle, as they kept getting tangled.

Fortunately, after three and half hours at sea, he was spotted by the rescue helicopter, with rescuers saying that he was "incredibly lucky to be alive".

Arne added: "Luckily, I knew the trick with the jeans. Without the jeans I wouldn't be here today, they were really the thing that saved me."

Source

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