Mauro Morandi
Mauro Morandi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1939 Modena, Italy |
| Died | (aged 85) Modena, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
Mauro Morandi (1939 – 3 January 2025) was an Italian island hermit who was the sole resident of the Italian island Budelli from 1989 to 2021. He was nicknamed "Robinson Crusoe". He became world famous and a source of inspiration for people.
Biography
[change | change source]Mauro Morandi was born in Modena, Italy in 1939. He worked as a physics teacher[1] and physical education[2] teacher until 1989.[2] In 1989, shortly after setting off on a sailing trip to Polynesia he shipwrecked on Budelli, a tiny (1.6km²) island in the Strait of Bonifacio betwen Sardinia and Corsica, well-known for its pink-sanded beach. Fascinated by the beauty of the island, he decided to leave his old life behind and settle permanently on the island, taking over the role of the previous hermit-caretaker who was about to retire. He lived for 32 years alone on the island, in a a house made of coral, shells and granite that he heated with a simple fireplace. He took care of the flora and fauna on the island, cleaned the beaches, and educated tourists about the island's ecosystem.[3]
He was forced to leave the island in 2021 by the Italian authorities because he had made "some changes to his residence without a permit." A petition to let him stay on the island garnered over 7000 signatures, but the authorities' decision stood. Morandi moved to the nearby island La Maddalena, where he lived a modest life in a small apartment. He wanted to keep the beauty of the island for himself, but came to realize that sharing it could contribute to make others "aware of the value of nature." With the help of a smartphone he was given, he became a source of inspiration through social media and had over 66000 followers on Instagram.[1][4]
After a fall in the summer of 2024, Morandi went to a nursing home in Sassari, and later moved to his hometown Modena. His health continued to deteriorate, and Morandi died there on 3 January 2025, at the age of 85.[5][2][1]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "'Robinson Crusoe', die ruim 30 jaar alleen op eiland woonde en wereldberoemd werd, is overleden". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 8 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Mauro Morandi, de échte 'Robinson Cusoe', op 85-jarige leeftijd overleden". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ↑ "Hermit guardian of Budelli dies after three decades on paradise island". The Guardian. 7 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ↑ "Italy's famous deserted island hermit dies at 85". The Guardian. 7 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ↑ "Farewell to Mauro Morandi, the hermit "guardian" of the island of Budelli". giornaledellavela.com (in Dutch). 6 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.