An 81-year-old man lauded as a hero by Greek media after rescuing 15 people during the storm front “Daniel”, which ravaged central Greece in September 2023, has passed away.
During once-in-a-century flooding, Kostas Tasiopoulos (then 80) risked his life when he set out in a small flat boat and a sole rowing oar to rescue a total of 15 people out of harm’s way in the submerged village of Metamorfosis, 16 kilometers northeast of the central city Karditsa.
The news of his demise saddened the local community, as Tasiopoulos was praised for his bravery and selflessness.
In a statement to KarditsaLive.Net, the president of the community, Petros Kontogiannis, mentioned:
“Our society is poorer today, as an iconic figure of our village’s modern history has passed away. The man who, at the age of 81, managed to surpass himself through personal struggle, selflessness, devotion, and strength, and with his sacrifice, saved several human lives.
Kostas Tasiopoulos was characterized by humility, honesty, kindness, and love for others. In the most difficult moments, he generously gave us all the courage, strength, and hope to stand on our feet again. For me and my fellow villagers, he is and will always be our heroic role model.”
Fifteen people pershished during the storm, while torrential rainfall resulted in more than two billion euros in damage, making it the most costly storm in recorded history in the country.
The EU released over 100 million euros in relief funds to Greece to deal with the subsequent catastrophic effects of the storm.
