I need to ask this really stupid question

I must have heard this wrong! Did they say that a rat can survive under water for 3 days? I can't fathom any living creature holding it's breath for that long. The reason I'm asking is because most of the other information and history they explained seemed pretty plausible. I'm just not sure if they said it as a joke or if maybe they said it can survive "in" the water for 3 days, which is more logical. I know absolutely zero about rats so please forgive my ignorance, lol.

"A naked American man stole my balloons".
An American Werewolf In London