Ilija Paninicic with the Brittish soldier Rhian Humphreys. He didn't know the Bosnian conflict was over and hasn't spoken to a human since he fled to the mountains in the end of 1996. His only neighbour was a bear that used to scratch his door. Photo: APBosnian man hid in the mountains for six years
A bosnian serb has been hiding in the mountains for six years. He thought the war was still fought and didn't dare to come out of hiding.
A man in Bosnia has been hiding for six years since he thought the war was still being fought. Soldiers from Brittish peacekeeping forces found the man in an abandoned house. He has been living there since 1996, eating berries and nuts to stay alive. The man, Illija Panincic, has lost some of his ability to speak after spending such a long time without human contact. His only neighbour was a bear that used to scratch his door.
Brothers had been executed
Paninicic didn't know that the conflict in Bosnia was over. He had not spoken to anyone since he left for his voluntary exile in the end of 1996. The bosnian serb fled to the mountains after finding out that his brothers had been executed by Croatian authorities. He had earlier spent time in prison for a crime he says he didn't commit. When he was released he fled to the mountains surrounding Sipovo.
Still in his hide-out
After finding him five months ago, the brittish soldiers provide him with food and clothes. The man is still living in his hide-out, and since it's located in inaccessible terrain -- you have to walk to get there -- he is likely to be left in peace in the future as well.