In March he was photographed as a homeless man who had rescued another who had fallen into a river in Galiza. But his Portuguese half-brother recognised José Fernandes, and has done everything to turn his sibling’s life around – and this week national media reports the “happy family” ending which finds José working alongside his brother in a vehicle repair shop in Torre de Moncorvo, delighted at his change of fortune.
“I just want to get on with my life now,” he told reporters. “What happened happened. It’s over now.”
The extraordinary story took its happy twist last March when José’s brother Carlos realised it was his elder sibling who was being hailed as a hero in Monforte de Lemos, Galiza.
Living under a bridge, José had seen a man fall into the water and knew he would drown if not brought to safety.
His quick thinking earned him not only notoriety but some new clothes from the Cáritas charity.
But more than this, it proved the vital link that Carlos said he had been seeking ever since his brother’s life had turned sour eight years previously.
“I have battled to find him, and now all I want is for him to be happy. Neither of us have parents any longer. We need to stay united.”
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
