A long-lost video of a family on holiday was returned to its' owner, thanks to a stranger’s generosity and TikTok.
Jono Marcus had assumed that the video of him visiting Kenya with his mum and dad in 1989 was long lost after his mum moved house in 2016.
It’s especially poignant because his father, pictured on the sweet video is now dead, while Jono is now 54-years-old.
"It’s just a breath. It’s a snapshot of someone who seemingly has no care in the world – and I did have no care in the world, it seemed if I recall. It was a good time," he told My TV.
David Gutenmacher, who runs the Museum of Lost Memories, spotted the video in a charity shop in New Jersey, US, and posted a video of it on TikTok.
"I found this VHS of a family vacation while thrifting so I bought it, took it home and digitised it," he explained in the viral video.
The video ended up being viewed over two million times, which didn't surprise Gutenmacher.
He said: "With everything going on these days, people just want to see good in the world and a story like this is perfectly wholesome."
People were left desperate for the people in the video to be reunited with the lost tape.
One person commented: "Where are they? Who are they? How are they? That's what I want to know."
Another said: "It's crazy to me when they filmed this that they had no idea that thousands of people someday in the future would watch it."
One viewer named Julie decided to contact Wesleyan University, Jono's alma mater, after spotting a man wearing a top with their logo.
The current swimming coach then put her in touch with their predecessor, who identified Jono.
She then left him an answerphone message, where she explained that he was trending on TikTok.
"I said ‘Please send me a link,’ and sure enough, she sent me a link and there I was with my mom and dad," the 54-year-old told ABC7.
After graduating from uni. Jono flew to Europe in 1989 before meeting his parents in Kenya, where they enjoyed a family video.
He shared a video on TikTok with photographs from that holiday and showing his reaction to the viral clip.
He even dressed up in the dungarees he appeared to be wearing in the video, and jokingly recreated the poses.
And he paid tribute to his father, who died in 2015.
The now 54-year-old said he was overwhelmed by the video - especially after a tough 2020.
He said: "It more sparked a feeling of youthfulness and playfulness that I may have put on a shelf, I think in part due to the pandemic and a part due to just getting to the rut of working hard, keeping the kids safe and entertained, I guess, during the pandemic.”
People were left open-mouthed that he was reunited with the sweet video.
One person wrote: "I have chills."
Another replied: "When the internet is used for good it's the best thing."
A third added: "Sometimes things like this remind me that the internet can be a beautiful thing."
