Four months without Michael Kozec
This is the third time Christopher Kozek has been in the Region, but the second since his brother, Michael Kozek, 35, disappeared without a trace, on July 7, 2021, while trailing alone between Porto Moniz and Calheta.
Remember that, wearing trail equipment, purple sneakers, a cap and a black backpack on his back, the Polish tourist, who lived in Switzerland, was dropped off in the village of Porto Moniz at 7:15 pm last summer. Since then, he has not been seen and there is no clue as to his whereabouts. His younger brother, as soon as he knew his brother was missing, took a plane to the archipelago, where for weeks on end he travelled from one end to the other the Madeiran mountains, together with the Civil Protection, firefighters, PSP, GNR and all the volunteers who joined the search, in which dogs, drones and even a helicopter were also involved.
Christopher was even hospitalized due to fatigue and dehydration, but hope compelled him to return to the field, where he spent approximately 15 hours.
However, unable to find answers, the Pole was forced to return home without his brother to Switzerland, where, at the moment, he prefers not to be. In fact, to JM, the young man from Poland, who returned to Madeira at the beginning of November, reports that the last few months have felt a mixture of emotions that are difficult to digest, as he cut off relations with Michael's wife and was confronted with the memories and routine he had with his brother.
“I've been traveling a lot…i was in Beirut, Lebanon, because I was trying to find peace of mind. In
Switzerland I couldn't do it, because I associate everything, even the streets, with my brother. We used to run together twice a week and he would visit me a lot,” he recalls.
But worst of all, he says, is that four months after Michael disappeared, there has been no development. “There is nothing new. There were rumours that they found one of the sticks he was running with, but rescuers said that wasn't true. There is nothing, no trace”, he revealed.
There is no shortage of conspiracy theories and baseless stories circulating the internet, which Christopher
Kozek does not believe, but which made it inevitable that he would change his cell phone number.
“I can't hear these stories anymore. I need to be strong. He was unhappy with his marriage, but he could get a divorce. Therefore, when I receive this type of information, I just block contacts, because that's enough”, he noted, assuring that the ultramarathoner would not be capable of such acts.
According to Christopher, Michael, who in addition to being a brother was his best friend, was a positive person, who loved his children unconditionally. “And his passion for the sport was exceptional. Ultrarunning was his greatest passion”, recalled the young man, who has no doubts that his brother was prepared to run trails, although he recognizes the difficulty and danger of Madeiran terrain.
Four months later, and although he admits to having postponed this return, Christopher Kozek returned to the Region, with the purpose of paying tribute and thanking the authorities and the athletes, cyclists and mountaineers, who helped him and who, even after the search had ceased, continued to visit looking for your brother. But if Madeira will never cease to be the place where Michael was last seen, the truth is that for Pole the island has become the only place where he feels at home. Here he says he has found a new family, which has supported him in what he describes as one of the most difficult times in his life.
“I'm really grateful because the people here are good and what they did in his searches was just extraordinary. I will never forget. They are all brothers and sisters to me. Now this is my family”, he said, assuring that he can no longer imagine living in Switzerland.
“I don't need to travel to South Africa or Antarctica to find peace of mind. This is where I feel it. It's a safe haven for me”, he said, adding that he will spend Christmas in the Region. Living in Madeira is, therefore, a desire that Christopher hopes to fulfil soon, having even looked for houses. For now, the young man has been looking to explore the island, which, according to him, “is one of the most beautiful islands on this planet”, venturing on catamarans and canyoning, which he has enjoyed experiencing. “I feel his spirit is here. And sometimes I feel like I need time to contemplate, meditate and just think about it,” he explained.