A shared love of the ocean connects two people

For resident Josephine Fatta, it’s not rare to stumble across nature’s many treasures during her daily five mile walks; however, her most recent find earned her a spot in the limelight. 

While taking her daily steps on a blustery day in early January, Fatta discovered a working GoPro action camera washed up on the shore of Yirrell Beach. The camera had been tucked into a pile of seaweed along with other debris swept up by the waves, following a storm. 

“I saw a corner of it peeking out of a pile of seaweed, thinking it was a lobster buoy,” recalled Fatta. “When I pulled it out, it took me a minute to realize it was a video camera because it was housed in a bright orange flotation case and handle. I hit the power button and was truly shocked it still worked. Then again, they’re made for extreme outdoor environments.”

As soon as Fatta was able to power up the camera, she was face to face with 40 minutes of crystal clear footage of a dedicated windsurfer, and immediately set out on a mission to track the surfer down. After capturing a screenshot of the man’s face on the video, she posted it to Facebook and presented it to the local kitesurfing community, but it wasn’t until she contacted WCVB Boston news that the mystery surfer was placed. Within hours of the footage being aired, Theo Kassuga, a resident of South Padre Island, Texas, had received a message from a Boston windsurfing group, sharing the news story, ultimately linking him to the camera. 

On February 18, Fatta and Kassuga connected on Zoom, alongside the WCVB reporter. 

“It was pretty amazing, especially after watching Theo’s recorded windsurfing footage, which I found on the SIM card in the camera. I felt bad it took me six weeks to get a reader for the card to realize it was there. Luckily it captured a clear image of his face which was a big clue in getting him identified. So, when I finally met Theo via a Zoom call with the WCVB reporter, it was extra special â€” he was at celebrity status at that point!”

Fatta, a Point Shirley resident for 25 years, always knew that she’d wind up living near the beach, and her longtime love of the sea has allowed her to bring joy to a fellow ocean lover. 

“Winthrop has always been the perfect match for me. I’m grateful every day for the easy access to the beautiful beaches and Deer Island Harborwalk, especially during a pandemic. Working from home has allowed me more time to get outside.”