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Alone on a Greek Island 260 km from Athens, 80-Year-Old Irene Rinio Received a Donkey as a Gift, a Gesture That Moved the Country and Symbolized Solidarity and Hope Amid Isolation
The story of 80-year-old Irene Rinio touches Greece and the world because it shows a life of isolation and resilience. According to data from People, she is the only resident of the island of Kinaros, a small piece of land in the Aegean Sea measuring just 5 square kilometers, situated about 260 kilometers from Athens.
Since losing her husband in 2013, Irene has lived completely alone, surrounded only by the sound of the wind and the movement of the sea.
Even so, she never left the place where she grew up. Born on the neighboring island of Amorgos, she spent her childhood in Kinaros before moving to Kalymnos, where she lived with her family.
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Later, the couple emigrated to Australia, but the desire to return to their homeland spoke louder.
The Gift That Changed Irene’s Routine
On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, Irene received an unexpected and touching gift: a donkey.
The animal was delivered by a team led by journalist Vasilios Saribalidis, who shared the news on social media. “After a long time, much effort, and many friends who believed we could fulfill our promise, the donkey that Mrs. Rinio had requested arrived at her new home,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
The transportation of the animal to the island required logistics and determination. According to Saribalidis, the trip was made on a Greek Ronin 35 boat, equipped with two Yamaha 350 hp engines.
Upon landing, the team witnessed Irene’s emotion as she met her new companion. “We saw up close the joy that the heroine of the Aegean felt,” reported the journalist.
A Gesture of Solidarity on the Remote Island
The shared photos show Irene resting her head on the donkey, in a gesture of affection and gratitude. In other images, she appears smiling alongside Saribalidis and a dog, another faithful friend who lives with her.
The journalist publicly thanked everyone who contributed to the gift and promised to share a video of the moment soon.
The gesture symbolizes not only solidarity but also recognition for a woman who chose to remain in one of the most isolated places in Greece.
Kinaros is known for its wild nature and its distance from civilization, making life there challenging.
A Parallel With Another Story of Friendship
Irene’s new companion comes months after another similar story gained attention. Early last year, People magazine reported the case of Wesley, a Great Pyrenees dog rescued by the organization Austin Pets Alive! (APA) in the United States.
The animal was found injured and abandoned, but over time, it recovered its health and was adopted by a loving family.
Just like Wesley, who found a new home and affection, Irene now has a companion that breaks the silence of her island.
The gift represents more than just a simple pack animal — it is proof that empathy and human care still find a way, even on the most remote islands in the world.
With information from People.
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