A daughter’s heart is “full and happy” after island companies offered to return to the United States a memorial bench for her late father that was found washed ashore in Bermuda last month.

Amanda Sadiku said the kind gesture by Stevedoring Services Ltd and Meyer Freight, the local agents for MV Somers Isles operator Somers Isles Shipping Ltd, had restored her faith in humanity.

“We are all shocked that people were willing to do that for us and we are very appreciative and grateful. It’s nice to know there are still good people in the world,” Ms Sadiku said.

The bench swept out to sea from Pinellas County, Florida, during Hurricane Helene in 2024 and washed up more than a thousand miles away on Southlands Park Beach in Bermuda.

It was inscribed in memory of father and husband Medhat “Mike” Sadiku, a US national who died in 2012.

The bench was found on September 18 covered in barnacles by Bermudian Angela Dill, who was able to track down the family.

Then the shipping company caught wind of the story and decided to step in.

The bench was retrieved from the beach by longshoremen from Stevedoring Services Ltd.

Yesterday, the memorial bench was loaded on board the Somers Isles, which will depart Bermuda this afternoon.

Once it arrives in Fernandina Beach, Florida, arrangements will be made to have it delivered to the family.

Ms Sadiku said: “We are very grateful to Angela and the people who came together to bring it home.

“It’s amazing it was not destroyed. My dad did want to go on an adventure for sure but he’s saying, ‘Bring me back now’.

“There is a lot going on in the world — people are not as genuine and not as kind — but I feel like this whole story has proved to me that there are still good-hearted individuals out there.

“Angela reaching out to us and these companies working together proves humanity still exists.

“I was in seventh grade when I lost my dad and the bench was a way to honour and remember him.

“Some people lost everything in the hurricane, I lost a bench, but it was my dad’s bench.

“Getting it back makes my heart full and happy.”

The family are still deciding what they will do with the bench once it arrives in Florida.

Ms Sadiku added: “I might surprise my aunt and put it in her garden. She paid for it and orchestrated the whole thing; it was her brother and only sibling.”

George Butterfield, the vice-president of Meyer Freight, said colleague Howard Pitcher, who works for Stevedoring, heard about the bench in the news and contacted the family in the US to ask if they would like it to be returned.

When they agreed, Stevedoring volunteered to provide labour to collect it from the beach, which was no easy task as there was only access during low tide and it had to be lifted over numerous rocks.

Once the bench arrived at the docks, SSL power-washed it in preparation for the return journey to the US.

At 11.30am yesterday, with Ms Dill standing by, the bench was accepted on board the Somers Isles by captain Roman Markov and chief mate Pavlo Popik.

Mr Butterfield said: “Sea-current patterns are amazing. I found it incredible that the bench floated from the Gulf Coast of Florida and ended up in Bermuda.

“It’s one of those ‘wow’ moments.

“SISL is happy to transport the bench back to Florida, and we are most thankful to the longshoremen at SSL for providing their services.”

Sheridan Ming, of Stevedoring Services, added: “Once we learnt that the bench had been located, SSL was pleased to provide the logistical support required for its recovery and to co-ordinate with Meyer Freight Ltd for its transportation aboard the Somers Isles.

“Recognising the bench's sentimental significance, our team was proud to play a role in returning it to its owners.

“Despite the challenging task of moving the bench from the beach to the roadside, the dedication, teamwork and determination of the SSL team ensured its safe recovery and preparation for shipment.

“We are delighted to have contributed to reuniting this valued memorial with its owners.”