All Good News

Messages In A Bottle: Siblings' Notes Found Hundreds Of Miles Away In Two Different Countries

October 22, 2024

Today's good news story comes from Sunderland, UK.

A heartwarming tale unfolded for a young girl and her brother from Sunderland, whose messages in a bottle were miraculously discovered hundreds of miles away within a year.

Credit: Christie Bowley / BBC Breakfast

On August 28 last year, Harry and Grace Bowley tossed their messages into the sea from Roker Pier, hoping they might someday hear back from a distant stranger. Little did they know, both bottles would not only be found but would also spark an incredible story that connected them across seas.

Six months later, on March 6, their mother, Christie Bowley, received an unexpected message on Facebook. A man named Frederik from Denmark had found Harry’s bottle, setting the stage for the first delightful surprise.

Then, on August 3, Christie was once again stunned when another message arrived, this time from a man named Freddy. Grace’s bottle had traveled over 550 miles and washed up on an island off Sweden’s west coast.

The bottles traveled across the North Sea

"I just think it’s a miracle, considering how big the sea is," said Christie. "They’ve both been found in the space of a year, you wouldn’t expect them to be found so soon."

Adding to the magic of the story was the uncanny coincidence in the names of the finders.

"Harry’s bottle was found by a man called Frederik and Grace’s was found by someone called Freddy – it is just mad," Christie shared.