A Japanese driver has credited Detective Conan with helping him survive a terrifying accident after his car plunged into a river. The man said he remembered an underwater escape scene from the anime while trapped inside his sinking vehicle, allowing him to recall how to get out.
The driver, who posts on X under the username @nozinozi053, shared his experience on November 8, 2026. According to his account, his car entered a river following a collision with another vehicle near a cemetery.
He explained that another driver had been reversing near the roadside. As he attempted to pass the vehicle, the other driver suddenly moved forward, resulting in a collision that sent his car into the water.
With his vehicle submerged, he initially feared he would not survive.
“For the first 20 seconds or so, I really thought I was going to die,” he wrote on X. However, a scene from Detective Conan suddenly came to mind, helping him remember how to escape from a submerged vehicle.
He subsequently managed to open the car door and get out alive.
“I can’t thank the creator of Conan enough!” the driver added.
The man was eventually helped onto the riverbank by a nearby resident.
Detective Conan Episode 1078 Featured the Same Underwater Escape Situation
The scene the driver remembered comes from Episode 1078 (Manga Chapter 1063) of Detective Conan, which originally aired on April 1, 2023 and was the one of the most anticipated Black Organization cases.
The episode follows FBI agent Andre Camel as he attempts to escape from the Black Organization. During a high-speed chase, Camel’s vehicle plunges into the sea, leaving him trapped underwater.
Inside the submerged car, Camel discovers that the doors cannot be opened because of the water pressure outside the vehicle.
Conan then explains how he can escape. He instructs Camel to breathe using the air pocket near the roof of the car and wait until water enters the vehicle, allowing the pressure inside and outside to gradually equalise. Once the pressure difference is reduced, Camel can push open the door and escape.
The sequence forms an important part of the episode’s storyline and is documented in the official episode archive published by Japanese broadcaster Yomiuri TV.
Driver Reveals His Windshield Had Already Broken During the Accident
The driver also provided additional details in a follow-up reply on X, explaining that his experience was slightly different from the situation depicted in the anime.
According to him, the car’s front windshield had broken during the accident, causing water to enter and fill the vehicle almost immediately.
He admitted that he could not say whether he would have been able to open the door before the water filled the cabin. Although the door initially felt somewhat heavy, he managed to push it open.
He also revealed that the vehicle was ultimately written off following the accident.
The incident has attracted considerable attention among anime fans, with many surprised that a scene from a long-running anime series could come to mind during such a dangerous real-life situation.
Nevertheless, the incident has given Detective Conan fans an unexpected real-life story, with one driver crediting the series for helping him remember an escape scene when he needed it most.
