A family who released three pink balloons outside their home in March in memory of their daughter Olivia could not believe it when one was found 720 miles away in a tiny village in Switzerland.
To make it even more special, it was the balloon released by her brother, six year old year Connor Fyson, which was discovered in a meadow by a couple in Brutten, 15 miles from Zurich airport.
Mum Emma Saunders said: “Connor was so excited. He said ‘Olivia has got the balloon and sent the label back to me to let me know she is OK’. It choked me. It was a very special moment.”
Emma, her partner Steve Fyson, and son Connor let off the balloons outside their home in Elliott Road, March, in their own special family memorial ceremony.
“Olivia was born asleep at 22 weeks and five days on Thursday February 9,” Emma said. “We felt the funeral would be too much for Connor so had our own ceremony for him with the balloons.
“I didn’t for one minute think anybody would find them.
“Olivia was born on a Thursday, we released the balloons on a Thursday and the label was returned to us from the couple in Switzerland on Thursday too.
“I can’t believe it travelled so far.”
The three pink balloons were released on Thursday March 9 and a card with the original pink label was returned to the family on Thursday March 30 - three weeks later - from Ursina and Robert Battensperger, who live in the picturesque Swiss village which has just 2,000 residents.
• The letter says in English - Dear sister, Dear brother, Dear family, we found the balloon you let off in a meadow near our house in Brutten. Brutten is a village in Switzerland near Zurich airport. We think it was a lovely idea to let off this balloon.
Then in German it adds - with kind regards and best wishes from Switzerland.
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