Ivan Drago, a visitor from Macedonia, was relaxing on the beach at Greece’s Cassandra Island in July. He was left alone in the open water, though, as a powerful wave carried him into the lake.
Ivan found himself unable to reach the shore despite his efforts to resist the tide. Rescuers were informed of his situation by witnesses, and a search was started. A odd item drifted past as Ivan battled to keep afloat. It was a huge inflatable ball that was only partially deflated but could still float.
Ivan was able to endure in the open water for 18 hours by clinging to the ball. Eventually, the coastline guard located him and saved him. One mother in particular was interested in the news coverage of Ivan’s remarkable rescue that appeared in the local media.
She recognized the inflatable ball as the one that her kids, Tryphon, age 11, and Thanos, age 6, had dropped on a beach on the island of Lemnos, which was 80 kilometers from where Ivan had been discovered.
The news that their long-lost toy had been so important in saving Ivan’s life delighted the family. The fact that the family’s missing inflatable ball ended up saving a stranded visitor on another island is a truly amazing coincidence. Even while occurrences like these are obviously incredibly uncommon, they serve as a reminder of the surprising ways in which fate may affect our lives.
It serves as a reminder of the value of being ready for mishaps and unanticipated circumstances.
