Crazy History Facts: Day 2: The Man Who Survived Both Atomic Bombs

On the morning of August 6, 1945, naval engineer Tsutomu Yamaguchi was preparing to leave Hiroshima after a three-month business trip for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Just as he walked toward the train station, an American B-29 bomber dropped the "Little Boy" atomic bomb over the city.

Yamaguchi was less than two miles from ground zero. He suffered severe burns to his upper body, ruptured eardrums, and temporary blindness, but survived.

After spending the night in an air-raid shelter, he boarded a train back to his hometown of Nagasaki to receive medical treatment. On August 9, wrapped in heavy bandages, he reported to his supervisor at the Mitsubishi office in Nagasaki to explain what had happened in Hiroshima.

Just as his boss told him it was impossible for a single bomb to wipe out an entire city, the second atomic bomb, "Fat Man," detonated directly over Nagasaki.

Yamaguchi was once again roughly two miles from the blast center, yet survived a second nuclear detonation, going on to live to the age of 93.

Defying one nuclear blast is a miracle; surviving two is pure defiance of the odds. Thanks for checking out Day 2! If you enjoyed the read, make sure to drop an Upvote & Subscribe to stay tuned for Day 3 tomorrow. See you on the feed!