Epic Badassery

[Muffincat]

Susumu Sugawara looks bemused and a little embarrassed at all the attention he's getting.
The 64 year old has become a local hero on the Japanese island of Oshima. Smashed boats adorn the coastline of this once-idyllic tourist spot, but Sugawara's pride and joy, "Sunflower" is intact and working overtime transporting people and aid to and from the island. It can hold around 20 people at a time.
When the tsunami came, everyone ran to the hills. But Sugawara ran to his boat and steered it into deeper waters. "I knew if I didn't save my boat, my island would be isolated and in trouble," he tells CNN.

. . .

For twenty days, he has been making hourly trips to the mainland. For the first two weeks at least he provided almost the only connection with it. Without Sugawara and the Sunflower, the island would have been completely cut off.
He doesn't ask passengers for money if they have none. Those that can, pay just 300 yen (US$3.5) towards fuel.

from Defiant Japanese boat captain rode out tsunami - CNN.com (http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/03/japan.tsunami.captain/index.html)

What an awesome guy ._.

[Saph]

I wish there were more people like him.

It would be nice if the vast majority of humanity werent self serving materialistic, hypercapitalized arrogant scumbags who would sell their own mom if it meant an extra buck and an extra person to claim power over.

This man is exemplary!

Thanks for sharing Muffin! Really worth reading! +rep

[LiNuX]

Definitely wish there were more people like this.

Most other people would take the clothes off the peoples' backs just because it would profit them a few cents.

+rep to Susumu Sugawara.

Also terrible that Japan was hit with another earthquake so soon.

[HamadaLFC8]

This is what being human should be about :( helping people in need. I bet about 70% of the people would have ripped the others off, if not more :/
Awesome guy.

What would you guys do tho?

[Saph]

I would not worry about money in a situation such as that.

I would've deffinately acted in the same fashion. If not boat, then car, or if I had tons of food, I'd deal it out equally, if I had water, I'd do the same, if I had space to keep others safe, I'd turn my entire house into a huge santuary.

During a regular day, I'd probably not fill my house with beggars, but when such a natural disaster happens, more than happily will I help in whatever way I can, even if it means that my life will be slightly less comfortable, the thought of helping hundreds, even thousands of people will keep me plenty warm at night.

[Jaykub]

I wish everyone in the world was like this :/ He's a hero without a doubt to me.

[Synge]

An awesome guy indeed. Hope his loved ones are okay.

[Jayhmmz]

Awesome story :)
Things like this make you realise that the world is still good in places!

[LiNuX]

What would you guys do tho?

I would make them promise to give me their GFP.


But seriously...I'd do something similar because you earn Karma points and +reps from your neighbors.

[DirtyDMan]

very kool and I also wish there where more people like this...

[LemonRising]

THATS TOTALLY WHAT I WOULD DO.
My plan has always been "get boat. go out to sea. you survive. come back. be pro."


What a cool guy.