Panta Petrovic, 70, retreated from mainstream society almost 20 years ago and now lives in a cave in the Stara Planina mountain in southern Serbia, close to his hometown of Pirot
Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Despite social distancing being the norm for him, a Serbian cave hermit has got his Covid jab – and is urging others to follow suit.
Panta Petrovic retreated from mainstream society almost 20 years ago and now lives in a cave in the Stara Planina mountain in southern Serbia, close to his hometown of Pirot.
On one of his infrequent visits to town last year, he became aware of the pandemic that was wreaking havoc all over the world.
As soon as the vaccine became available he got his jab.
“It (the virus) does not pick. It will come here, to my cave, too”, the 70-year-old told AFP.
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Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
Petrovic receives welfare, but also relies on food donations and supplies for the animals that he keeps, including a 200kg wild boar named Mara.
Petrovic said he “doesn’t understand the fuss” some vaccine sceptics make.
“I want to get all three doses, including the extra one. I urge every citizen to get vaccinated, every single one of them,” he said.
Revealing his reasons for retreating to the cave accessible only by a steep climb, he said he wanted a quieter life.
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AFP via Getty Images)
“I was not free in the city. There is always someone in your way – you either argue with your wife, neighbours, or the police,” Petrovic said.
“Here, nobody is hassling me”, he added.
The 70-year-old worked as a labourer on the black market, at home and abroad, before his decision to become a hermit.
He mostly eats mushrooms and fish from the local creek, but also goes into town in search of leftover food from bins.
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AFP via Getty Images)
“Money is cursed, it spoils people. I think nothing can corrupt a human like money”, Petrovic told AFP.
Before isolating, Petrovic donated all the money he had made abroad to the community by funding the construction of three small bridges in the town.
Since last December, Serbia has vaccinated almost a third of its 6.7 million population.
Serbia has recorded more than 722,220 people Covid-19 cases and 7,118 deaths from the virus.
