A real-life car accident in Japan has drawn attention to an unexpected use of anime knowledge. A driver claims that remembering a scene from Detective Conan helped him escape from his submerged vehicle after a collision sent his car into a river.
The man, who posts on X under the username @nozinozi053, shared his experience on November 8, 2026. He explained that he initially feared he would not survive, but a scene from the long-running mystery anime came back to him while he was trapped underwater.
“For the first 20 seconds or so, I really thought I was going to die,”
he wrote. He then credited the scene with helping him understand how to get out, adding,
“I can’t thank the creator of Conan enough!”
Detective Conan Episode 1078 Goes Viral After Japanese Driver Recalls Its Underwater Escape Scene
The incident has brought renewed attention to a 2023 episode of the anime, in which Conan helps FBI agent Andre Camel escape from a car trapped underwater. The sequence features a method involving an air pocket inside the vehicle and the pressure difference between the cabin and the surrounding water.
In the episode, Camel’s car plunges into the sea while he is being pursued by the Black Organization. He discovers that the doors will not open and the power windows have stopped working. Conan tells him to release his seat belt, remain near the air trapped at the roof of the car, and wait until the water level rises enough for the pressure inside and outside to become nearly equal.
Camel eventually follows the instructions, manages to open the door, and escapes. The episode, titled “The Black Organization’s Scheme (Landing),” originally aired in Japan on April 1, 2023. Its official synopsis on Yomiuri TV’s Detective Conan website confirms that Camel’s vehicle falls into the sea and that he escapes with help from Conan and the others.
Driver Describes His Escape After the Accident
The real-life driver said the scene returned to his mind while he was trapped inside his submerged car. He began searching for the door handle and eventually managed to push the door open.
“I pulled on it, and the wall to my right moved a little. I realized it was the door, so I pushed it open with all my strength,”
he explained.
A nearby resident reportedly helped him reach the riverbank after he got out. Police, emergency responders, and local residents later gathered at the scene. His car was reportedly written off, although he survived the incident. In a follow-up post, he also mentioned losing his jacket in the river, adding an unexpectedly light-hearted detail to an otherwise frightening experience.
The story has also prompted discussion about how anime scenes can remain memorable long after viewers watch them. However, the sequence should not be treated as general emergency advice. The American Automobile Association (AAA) recommends prioritising seat-belt removal and escaping through an open or broken window as quickly as possible. Waiting for a vehicle to fill with water is a last-resort situation, not the preferred escape method.
For Detective Conan fans, the incident is a striking reminder that even a fictional survival scene can leave a lasting impression. In this case, the driver says remembering Andre Camel’s underwater escape helped him stay focused during a life-threatening emergency.
