Boxing Day 2003, a giant tsunami hit the northern Indonesian region of Banda Aceh. The tsunami killed about 230,000 people across 14 countries, but not one brave little boy called Martunis.

Martunis had lost his mother and siblings to the tsunami, but for 19 days the young boy found a way to survive until he was finally rescued.

He was discovered by a Sky News crew and reunited with his father in hospital, and became famous not just because of his remarkable story, but also because he was found wearing a Portugal football shirt.
When asked about his ordeal by Kyodo News, Martunis said ‘I was not afraid at all at that time because I still wanted to be alive to meet my family and to be a football player’.

The boy’s story attracted the attention of Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who has since met Martunis on a number of occasions and helped him raise money to rebuild his family home.

In an interesting twist of fate, the boy has fulfilled his football dream. Not just that, he has been signed by his idol Ronaldo’s childhood club, Sporting Lisbon.

Sporting’s president Bruno de Carvalho said that the club will help Martunis grow as both a footballer and a man, and will play for the club’s under-19 team.

I swear I’m not crying. There’s something in my eyes.

Janeth J