Oscars: The Greek hero who saved 5,000 lives (photos-video)

Protagonist of “4.1 miles”, a short Oscar-nominated Greek documentary

Two Greeks were among all the Hollywood stars on the Oscars ceremony night in Los Angeles, Sunday. University student Daphne Matziarakis was nominated for best short documentary for “4.1 miles”. Accompanying her was the protagonist of her movie, Greek coast guard officer Kyriakos Papadopoulos, 43. Matziarakis’s documentary was a testament to the courage and humanity displayed by Papadopoulos, who saved 5,000 refugees in the Aegean Sea with his crew between the island of Lesvos and the western Turkish coasts. The brave man, with his his 15-year-old daughter, Vivi beside him sent a message to the whole world about the efforts made by the Greek coast-guard under adverse conditions in the Aegean Sea to save human lives. “We are proud of the efforts of the coastguard to save every single life in the sea in this tragedy that has befallen our Greece.” Berkley University media student Daphne Matziarakis was inspired by his story and traveled to Mytilene and followed Kyriakos and his crew on board their vessel, creating a short documentary about their attempts to save lives. A dramatic moment in the film shows Kyriakos and his crew trying unsuccessfully to save the life of a refugee at the port of Lesvos by delivering CPR. Kyriakos, who lives on Lesvos with his wife and two children has been in the coast guard for most of his life and is the example of humanity and a true hero.

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