President Milanović Receives Prominent Inclusive Mountaineer and Author Feručo Lazarić

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović received today Feručo Lazarić, the mountaineer, travel writer, musician and motivational speaker whose life story inspires the general public all over Croatia.

Feručo Lazarić, who lost his sight at the age of 40, shared his incredible experiences from hiking trails and distant travels in his conversation with President Milanović. He stated that he had begun hiking after losing his eyesight, and that he had embraced his loss of sight as a kind of gift and began living more actively than ever before.

To this day, Feručo Lazarić has conquered some of the highest and most demanding summits, including Mt Kilimanjaro, Mt Olympus and Mt Triglav. Furthermore, he has travelled across the Alps, the Andes and the Himalayas. He particularly highlighted his domestic feat of hiking the Via Adriatica – Croatia’s longest hiking trail stretching an impressive 1,100 kilometres. He added that he always travels in company, most commonly with fellow hikers from various parts of Croatia, and he especially highlighted meeting the Croatian community in Peru.

He authored two books, “Planinarenje na slijepo” [Hiking Blind] and “Na drugi način lijepo” [Beautiful in a Different Way], the latter of which he presented as a gift to the President, noting that his third book is in preparation. Through his books and frequent lectures, Lazarić tirelessly promotes inclusive mountaineering.

President Milanović congratulated Feručo Lazarić on his achievements so far and wished him success in the upcoming travels in Asia and Australia. The President also thanked him for his engagement in promoting inclusinve mountaineering and projects in which he collaborates with persons with disabilities.

Feručo Lazarić was accompanied by his guide companion Dubravka Cvjetičanin.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas