The 23-year-old Panagiotis, missing since Monday afternoon (6/1), was transported to the Seli ski resort in a snowcat.

The young man, who was located around 1:00 PM by four firefighters in the area known as “Prionia,” where it seems he had found shelter at a forest ranger station and managed to spend the night safely, was smiling as he was transported in the Fire Department vehicle to the ski resort. There, he was transferred to the hospital as a precaution via an ambulance from EKAB (National Emergency Aid Center).

According to reports, the 23-year-old got lost and sought shelter to spend the night until he was found.

Watch video and photos of the 23-year-old’s transportation:

“Thankfully, Everything Went Well,” Says His Brother

“Thankfully, my brother was found, and he’s okay! Now we’re just waiting for him to arrive so we can see him. Everything turned out well, thankfully. He’s a commando, and we knew he’d manage. Thankfully, this is behind us, and we’re all relieved. We’re waiting to hear from him about what exactly happened,” said the 23-year-old Panagiotis’s brother, speaking to protothema.gr.

According to what the family learned, the 23-year-old left one of the slopes and ended up at a small chapel. This morning, he walked further, and he was finally located at the ranger station, safe and sound.

“Yesterday morning, we went snowboarding. We arrived in the car that my brother was driving. When he was late returning, we got worried and started looking to see if he was okay. My brother has experience with snowboarding,” he added.

The Spot Where the Young Man Was Found

The moment the group realized the 23-year-old might have gotten lost and decided to notify the authorities was when his friends noticed that he had not returned the ID required to rent the snowboard. That’s when they mobilized.

Found 8 km Away from the Ski Resort

Apostolos Meliopoulos, director of the Seli ski resort, speaking to Star network, stated that the 23-year-old Panagiotis was found 8 km away from the ski resort. “Thankfully, everything went well. He was located by search teams 8 km away from the ski resort,” said Mr. Meliopoulos.

The First Photo After He Was Found

The Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vasilis Kikilias, posted the first photo of the young man at the ranger station with the firefighters who located him.

“Warm congratulations to everyone involved in locating and rescuing the 23-year-old Panagiotis at the ‘Prionia’ ranger station in Ano Seli,” the minister wrote in his post. “Your selflessness and professionalism are a shining example of service to society,” he added.

See the minister’s post:

Θερμά συγχαρητήρια σε όλους όσοι κινητοποιήθηκαν για τον εντοπισμό και τη διάσωση του 23χρονου Παναγιώτη στο Δασοφυλάκιο «Πριόνια», στο Άνω Σέλι.

Η αυταπάρνηση και ο επαγγελματισμός σας αποτελούν παράδειγμα προσφοράς προς την κοινωνία.

Ευχαριστούμε τους πυροσβέστες από τις… pic.twitter.com/V1BBBwB8z6

— Vassilis Kikilias (@Vkikilias) January 7, 2025

The Minister’s Full Post:

“Warm congratulations to everyone involved in locating and rescuing the 23-year-old Panagiotis at the ‘Prionia’ ranger station in Ano Seli.

Your selflessness and professionalism are a shining example of service to society.

We thank the firefighters from the Veria and Naousa Fire Departments, the staff of the 5th and 2nd EMAK (Special Disaster Units), the Hellenic Police, the volunteers, the employees of the ski resort, and everyone who participated in the search efforts.

Special recognition goes to the four firefighters who located the young man. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”