A man who lost his surfboard while surfing in Hawaii was shocked to find that it turned up over 5,000 miles away.
Doug Falter, 35, who lives in Hawaii, lost his board in Walmea Bay, Oahu, in February 2018.
It was later found by a fisherman in the Philippines who sold it to a teacher who wanted to learn how to surf, reports, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency.
On losing his board, Falter wrote on Facebook : "I was really upset as I managed to catch the biggest waves of my life on this board. That's why it meant so much to me."
The board's new owner is Giovanne Branzuela, a primary school teacher in the southern Philippines.
The local fisherman, who found the board six months after Falter lost it, sold the board to Branzuela for $40.
Even though the board had changed colour - from blue to yellow - Branzuela spotted the name Lyle Carson on it and he contacted him through Facebook.
In turn Carson let Falter know that his board had turned up safe and sound in the Philippines.
Branzuela, 38, told the AFP: "It turned out it's a surfboard from Hawaii. I couldn't believe it myself." Before adding that he'd told Falter he would "take good care" of his board.
On the amazing discovery Falter said he "couldn't believe it" and that he thought "it was a joke".
He also wrote on Facebook: "As bummed as I was when I lost it, now I am happy to know my board fell into the hands of someone wanting to learn the sport."
Falter also added that he would have gone to visit Branzuela if it weren't for Covid-19 travel restrictions.
The pair are in contact and when he can Falter will fly to the meet Branzuela to retrieve his board.
"It was my first big wave surfboard custom shaped for myself. I surfed it on the biggest days I've ever surfed in my life," AFP reported Falter as saying.
"It's an excuse for me to go to the Philippines and visit and basically complete the story," he said. "I think it would be a great ending to teach him how to surf."
