Kazuki Takahashi died in July at the age of 60 in Japan. According to new reports, the Japanese manga artist, best known as the creator of Yu-Gi-Oh!, died while trying to rescue people from drowning.

According to TMZ, Takahashi was trying to save two strangers from being swept up in a strong current when he himself met with his tragic end.

Eyewitnesses told local media that Takahashi dove into a riptide to try and bring a woman and her 11-year-old daughter back to shore on July 4.

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Major Robert Bourgeau, a 49-year-old US Army officer and scuba diving instructor, also aided in the rescue mission. Multiple people witnessed the artist’s heroic act as he tried to save the people.

Bourgeau managed to save the 11-year-old girl and the mother, but when he went to help a 39-year-old US soldier, he feared he would lose his own life. Bourgeau still managed to help the soldier by yelling orders so that the latter could navigate safely.

Bourgeau told TMZ that Takahashi is a “hero…he died trying to save someone else.” He also said that he never saw Takahashi get into the water, but his students confirmed they saw glimpses of him.

Takahashi’s body was found about 1,000 feet offshore in Awa, Nago city two days after the incident, a Japan Coast Guard spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Oct. 4. His rental car was later found at Mermaid’s Grotto, the spokesman said.

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The Coast Guard spokesman declined to confirm Takahashi’s participation in the rescue attempt. However, several sworn witness statements were provided by the Army about Takahashi’s role in the rescue mission.