For the first time in the history of the Hungarian state’s highest civilian distinction, the “Gold Medal of Honour” has been awarded to a foreign citizen — a young Greek athlete who performed a heroic rescue.
Twenty-one-year-old Anastasios Garipis from Thessaloniki was recognised by Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok for his bravery last July, when he rescued a father and his young daughter who were struggling to stay afloat off the coast of Epanomi, near Thessaloniki. The two Hungarian nationals had been swept away by strong currents while swimming, when Garipis, who was practising kite surfing nearby, noticed their distress and rushed to help.
Using his board, he managed to bring both of them safely back to shore, a feat that later gained widespread attention on social media and in Greek and Hungarian media outlets.
During the award ceremony in Budapest, Garipis expressed his gratitude in a post shared on Instagram, writing:
“It is a profound honour to have been awarded the Gold Medal of Merit by the President of Hungary. This recognition belongs to all who act without hesitation when life is at risk.”
The ceremony was attended by the Greek Ambassador to Hungary, Spyros Georgiles, several Hungarian officials, representatives of the Spanish government, and Spanish kite surfing champion Iset Segura, who was also honoured for her role in the rescue. The family of the survivors attended the event, thanking the young Greek for saving their lives.
The Hungarian government emphasised that this act of bravery symbolised international solidarity and the spirit of humanity that transcends borders.
