Man Survives 18 Hours Lost At Sea By Clinging To A Soccer Ball

A man survived 18 hours lost at sea and he did it by clinging to a soccer ball he found in the water that helped keep him afloat.

The man, identified only as Ivan from North Macedonia, was vacationing at Myti Beach in Kassandra, Greece when he was swept out to sea with a friend, according to Fox 5.

Like a scene with Wilson from Castaway, Ivan allegedly saw a soccer ball floating toward him out in the ocean and he managed to grab it and clung to it for dear life.

According to Fox 5, 18 hours passed before the Greek Coast Guard managed to find Ivan and rescue him and the nearly deflated soccer ball. His friend remains missing.

As for Ivan, he was taken to a hospital to recover and has since been released.

In the end, the soccer ball was claimed by a mother who said it appears to be the ball her two kids lost at the beach some 80 miles away.

While losing a ball would usually be disappointing, it seems it served an important, life-saving purpose during its time at sea.

Hopefully Ivan’s missing friend is found soon and his family and friends can get the closure they deserve.

Photos have been circulating of Ivan, the ball, and the rescue, and you can check some of them out in the video below: