Panta Petrovic has been living in a cave in Russia’s Siberia
province for 20 years now. But that didn’t stop him from getting vaccinated
against COVID-19 when he learnt about the pandemic last year during a rare visit
to hometown Pirot.

The 70-year-old man decided to make the Stara Planina
mountain in Southern Siberia his home in a bid to seek freedom from city life. While
many people are still hesitant about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines,
Petrovic didn’t waste any time after coming to know about the availability of vaccines.

“It (the virus) does not pick. It will come here, to
my cave, too”, he told news agency AFP.

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Petrovic uses an old rusty bathtub as toilet and some
benches and a stack of hay as his bed.

Before choosing the remote cave as his home, Petrovic
worked as a labourer on the black market in Pirot and abroad. He described his city
life, which included multiple marriages, as “hectic”.

Cherishing his hassle-free abode, Petrovic said he didn’t
feel “free” in the city.

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He donated all his money to the construction of three
small bridges in the town before embarking on his cave life.

He believes money is “cursed” and “spoils” people.

Petrovic is baffled by the “fuss” around COVID-19
vaccines and is keen on wanting to “get all three doses, including the extra
one.”

He wants others to follow his example and get vaccinated.

While Petrovic relies on mushrooms and fish from the
local creek to feed himself, he also makes trips to the town in search of
leftover food.

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He’s also been friends to a variety of animals including goats,
chickens, dogs and cats and an adult wild boar.

Coronavirus, which first emerged in China’s Wuhan city in
late 2019, has infected over 20 crore people and claimed more than 4.3 million
lives worldwide.