Modern-day Chuck Nolan, Mauro, who lived on an island with no humans around
Hyderabad: Imagine living in solitude for years together on a remote island and suddenly moving to the city? Rings a bell? Reminds you of the Tom Hanks-starrer ‘Cast Away’? Yes, that is exactly what this 82-year-old Mauro Morandi has done. He spent half of his life (say over 33 years) on the Sardinian island of […]
Hyderabad: Imagine living in solitude for years together on a remote island and suddenly moving to the city? Rings a bell? Reminds you of the Tom Hanks-starrer ‘Cast Away’? Yes, that is exactly what this 82-year-old Mauro Morandi has done. He spent half of his life (say over 33 years) on the Sardinian island of Budelli with the company of some wild birds and cats. And guess what? He had no humans to interact with on the island for the past three decades.
Now, Mauro has started or rather was forced to start a new life by heading back to the city – as the authorities announced plans to turn the island into an environmental observatory, leaving Mauro with no other choice but to vacate his home.
Thus, in May, Mauro moved to the island of La Maddalena where he bought a new home using his pension and eventually got around to spending time with other people.
About the sudden change and having people around him, the 82-year-old shared in an interview with ‘CNN’, “For a long time I have lived alone, and far too many years after I first landed on Budelli I didn’t feel like talking to anyone. True, I cannot enjoy the island’s solitude anymore, but my life now has taken a new turn, focused on communicating with others and being near other people.”
It all started way back in 1989 when Mauro decided to stay on the island after attempting to sail from Italy to Polynesia. He shared that he was drawn by the sights and sounds of the quiet island.
But now, Mauco is finally adapting to his new life in the city. “I’m the living proof that a second, new life is possible. You can always start all over again, even if you’re over 80 because there are other things you can experience, a totally different world,” he said.
According to news reports, Mauro has even written a book about his island experience.
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