'Yu-Gi-Oh!' Creator Kazuki Takahashi 'Disappeared Beneath The Waves' Trying To Rescue Drowning People: Report

New details surrounding the death of popular manga "Yu-Gi-Oh!" creator Kazuki Takahashi have emerged. News of his tragic demise broke in July when his body was found floating off the coast of Naga City in Japan.

While drowning was identified as the cause of his death at the time, a recent report by a U.S. military newspaper Stars and Stripes provided more details on the circumstances that led to his death.

According to the report, a 49-year-old U.S. Army officer named Robert Bourgeau has been rewarded with a Soldier's Medal for "rescuing three people from a riptide at a popular Okinawa dive spot in an episode the apparently killed a well-known Japanese manga artist."

The officer reportedly swam out after spotting three Japanese swimmers struggling in a riptide about a hundred yards away from the shores of Mermaid's Grotto. He managed to save the swimmers and bring them to the shore.

The report also shed light on what happened to Takahashi, who tragically died in the same diving spot that day. Sworn witness statements reportedly revealed that during the rescue, Takanashi saw the struggling swimmers so he tried to help Bourgeau rescue them by jumping into the sea. Witnesses said they only "caught glimpses of him until he disappeared beneath the waves."

In an interview with the outlet, Bourgeau said he was teaching some students near the beach when he saw a mother calling for help as they were trapped in a whirlpool. "I grabbed mom and I grabbed the girl and I just kicked for all life," he said.

While Bourgeau did not witness Takahashi springing into action trying to help him save the swimmers, his students later confirmed that they caught glimpses of the manga creator trying his best to help him before ultimately disappearing beneath the waves.

"He's a hero," Bourgeau added. "He died trying to save someone else."

Takahashi rose to fame for his work on "Yu-Gi-Oh!" The success of his manga resulted in Konami creating a trading card game of the same title in 1999, with Takahashi contributing to the concept. The card game also paved the way for several video games, including "Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel."