Grandma’s love for TV sparks search drama but ends in sweet surprise

Baka Milka (Photo: Gradsko društvo Crvenog križa Ludbreg)

A grandmother from near the Croatian town of Ludbreg, known as Baka Milka, became the centre of an unexpected search operation when she failed to answer her door—because she was too busy watching President Zoran Milanović’s inauguration.

Baka Milka failed to answer her door when her caregiver knocked three times as she was engrossed in the inauguration, which was shown live on TV.

This led to a search operation, as people feared she had gone missing.

Ivana, a home care worker from the Ludbreg Red Cross, regularly visits Baka Milka to bring her essentials and keep her company.

Last Tuesday, she arrived to find the door locked, no smoke coming from the chimney, and no sign of Baka Milka. Concerned, Ivana alerted the Red Cross, which immediately launched a search.

Neighbours and Red Cross staff knocked on windows and even climbed ladders to peek inside. Eventually, they found Baka Milka in bed, completely absorbed in watching the TV broadcast of the president’s inauguration.

When President Milanović heard about the incident, he wanted to send her a gift. Asked what she would like, Baka Milka simply requested something sweet.

(Photo: Gradsko društvo Crvenog križa Ludbreg)

The President’s Office sent her a selection of sweets, but her reaction was heartwarming.

“When we brought her the gift, she looked at it and said, ‘Children, share it among yourselves,’” said Mirjana Jerbić, director of the Ludbreg Red Cross, as reported by Dnevnik.hr.

(Photo: Gradsko društvo Crvenog križa Ludbreg)

Along with the sweets, she also received a signed photograph of President Milanović, which turned out to be her favourite part of the surprise.

(Photo: Gradsko društvo Crvenog križa Ludbreg)

“This is even better; I’ll keep it and show others what I got,” said Baka Milka, delighted with her special gift.