60 years in the wild: the story of Russian Tarzan

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

The story of Mikhail Fomenko is almost unknown in his homeland, but all of Australia knows this Russian man. Here, on the wildest and most dangerous continent, where civilization has not yet advanced further than several megacities, Fomenko was nicknamed "Russian Tarzan" and "Great Hermit". This is because sixty years ago, Michael decided not to go along the same road with civilized people, but instead went to the most remote and dangerous regions of Australia. Try to imagine a life like this. For half a century he hunted crocodiles and lions with his bare hands!

What are the fates

Mikhail Fomenko's genetics must be said to be notable. His mother was the Georgian princess Elizaveta Machabeli, and his father was heavyweight champion Daniil Fomenko. With such a pedigree, not only Australia can be conquered - the whole world! In his native Georgia, Mikhail lived only up to three years, then the family fled from the Soviet regime to Japan, and from Japan to Sydney. This is the beginning of the story of a simple Russian peasant, nicknamed by the Australians "Russian Tarzan". Problems at school

Michael's sisters very quickly adapted to the new society. But the boy was much harder: he ended up in another school, where he was the only foreigner. The teachers immediately drew attention to the physically developed young man - Mikhail passed the school selection, then the selection for the Sydney championship and almost got to the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

The escape

But sports did not reconcile Mikhail with his new homeland. At the age of 25, the young man suddenly dropped everything and just left for the north of Australia. Here he established contacts with the natives, hunted crocodiles and even lions. Such freedom seemed not enough to Mikhail: after living for three years with the Bushmen, he cut himself a canoe from a whole cedar and went to New Guinea, guided only by the stars.

Return of the prodigal son

The 600-kilometer journey nearly cost Mikhail his life. In 1959, locals discovered an emaciated man in the jungle of New Guinea. From the hospital they contacted the father, he flew in and took his son home, from where he fled literally two weeks later.

Problems with law

In 1964, Mikhail was arrested. His mother took care of this, tired of fearing for the life of her only son. "Tarzan" was charged with vagrancy and indecent behavior - he used to walk around in one loincloth. Then the poor man was transferred to a psychiatric clinic, where he was “treated” with electroshock therapy for a long time.

To freedom with a clear conscience

No electric shock can discourage a person from craving for freedom. Mikhail left the clinic, walked around the city for a couple of days and again fled to the savages. Only in 1988 the Russian Tarzan will drop in to Sydney for his mother's funeral.

Bushman

Fomenko seemed to deliberately choose the most inaccessible regions of Australia. Even the Bushmen rarely visited his last refuge - that area of the bush is teeming with wild animals and is very dangerous. Mikhail was saved by his innate strength and endurance: Tarzan easily ran 30 kilometers in a day, he could kill a lion with a spear and find water even in the desert.

Tarzan at rest

In 2012, Fomenko went to visit his sister. On the way, the hermit caught a viral disease and took to the hospital, from where he was no longer released. From the hospital bed, Mikhail went straight to the nursing home. Tarzan no longer tries to escape, but he does not support communication with other guests either. And what should a real man talk about with pampered city dwellers?