In the summer of 2019, a boy from the United States put a bottle with information at sea. About three years later, it was discovered in Ireland.
Sasha Yonyak, 14, lost a good friend in August 2021. His 64-year-old neighbor Wayne Smith has died. The two have a lot in common, including a love of fishing.
In January, Sasha got a surprise that reminded him of Wayne. Three years ago, a friend threw a message in a bottle next to a fishing boat. They sailed near Ocean City. It is a seaside town in Maryland on the east coast of the United States.
So long had passed that Sasha thought the bottle had disappeared forever. He was surprised to find it found on the beaches of Ireland. That's a country in Europe. Ireland is located on the Atlantic side. Maryland is on the opposite side. It's more than 3,000 miles away from us.
An Irish couple who found the bottle on the beach placed it by the fireplace. They want to dry up the things inside.
Find a message in the bottle
Irish couples Ciaran Marron and Rita Simmonds found the bottle. When they saw it, they were walking along the beach. "As soon as we found it, we knew it was going to take us on an adventure," Symonds said.
Inside the bottle was a note written by an 11-year-old boy named Sasha. In his notes, Sasha wrote about fishing. He also mentioned his good friend Wayne. He left a phone number and asked the finder to "please call."
Malone and his wife dialed the phone number. They were disappointed to learn that it was disconnected. Still, they decided to find Sasha after reading his notes. "They wanted him to know it landed safely and far away," Symonds said. They wrote to a newspaper in Ocean City, and a reporter got them in touch with Sasha's father.
More than just a happy discovery
Sasha's father, Vlad Yonyak, was also surprised to hear that his son's message in the bottle was found. The bottle, he said, wasn't just a happy discovery. This has a special meaning for Sasha. He and his family are still learning how to live without Wayne.
"He spent a lot of time with Sasha," Uniak said of Wayne. "They became very good friends." Yonyak says finding and then giving away the bottle was an experience that brought Sasha and Wayne closer together. Now, the bottle was back with him. For Sasha, the return of the bottle is the best reminder of a good friend.
Yonyak tells Marron and Simmonds the story behind the bottle. The couple said it made sense to find the bottle, then went to Sasha and listened to his story.
"He's still grieving, and it reminds him of fond memories," Symonds said. When people are sad, they feel very sad. It's usually about something or someone they lost.
"This bottle reflects the friendship between Mr Wayne and Sasha," Uniak said. But it also marked the beginning of a new friendship, he added. The Yonyak family has been talking to Marron and Simmonds on the phone since their discovery. They want to plan a trip to Ireland as soon as possible. Sasha wanted to see where the bottle landed and meet its finder.
"It's a story of hope," Symonds said. She and Marron will keep the bottles until Sasha comes to Visit them in Ireland. Then they will put it back into the sea, with new friends by their side.