A tale of determination, endurance, and a very important Dundee connection has resurfaced to leave Dundonians gobsmacked.
Angus Barbieri, from Tayport in Scotland, recorded the world's longest fast-382 days from June 1965 to July 1966.
While the story of his incredible weight loss made headlines around the world at the time, for many locals, it is only now that they are finding out about it through renewed interest on social media.
Comments from those who came upon this revelation for the first time highlight the mix of astonishment and inquisitiveness this has set alight:
"I never knew this! Awesome story!????," one exclaimed excitedly, capturing succinctly the feeling of so many, while another added "Wow. Never knew".
Angus, who had weighed 456 pounds (207 kg) at the outset of his fast, lost an incredible 276 pounds (125 kg), bringing his weight down to 180 pounds (82 kg).
His fast was under the close medical supervision of Dundee's Maryfield Hospital, but he remained at home in Tayport at all times.
One remarked on how the fast was a practicality:
"Apparently, he did it at home and only visited Maryfield regularly for check-ups. Didn't make him live very long though, dying about aged 51."
Despite his record-breaking feat, Angus' story didn't quite have a fairy-tale ending.
As one commenter revealed:
"Angus became a psychiatric nurse and was my charge nurse during training in the early 1980s. A lovely man who was married with children and had unfortunately regained the weight."
The story has also brought back memories for those who remember the connections to the Barbieri family. "His mum and dad had the fish and chip shop and ice cream parlour in Tayport," one remembered.
Meanwhile, another noted a coincidental connection: "I was born at that same hospital in June of that year."
The photo making its rounds online is captioned with information regarding Angus's journey. Some are asking, "Why?" Others asked about what happened after his fast. One commenter simply asked: "What happened next???
The triumph-and-tragedy story of Angus reveals his feat and raises serious questions about how far human flesh and blood can go, apart from the after-effects of weight loss.
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