An 81-year-old man lauded as a hero by Greek media after rescuing 15 people during Storm Daniel that hit central Greece in 2023 has passed away.
In September 2023, during the floods that followed in central Greece after the storm hit the area, Kostas Tasiopoulos (80 then) risked his life when he decided to take 15 people out of harm’s way in the village of Metamorfosis, 16km northeast of Karditsa, by boating them to higher elevation until special rescue units took over.
The news of his demise shocked the local community, as Kostas had become the epitome of bravery and selflessness.
In a statement to KarditsaLive.Net, the president of the community, Mr. 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 were killed in Greece during storm Daniel, while severe rainfall resulted in more than two billion euros in damage, making it the most costly recorded storm for the country.
The EU released over 100 million euros in relief funds to Greece to deal with the subsequent catastrophic effects of the storm.
