In the biting cold of Romanescu Park, a scene of sheer desperation transformed into a testament to human courage on Saturday. Vipan Kumar, a 48-year-old Indian citizen, currently working in Craiova, is being hailed as a national hero after plunging into the sub-zero waters of the park’s lake to save a five-year-old girl from drowning.
The incident began when the young girl fell through the thin ice, approximately 10 meters from the shore. While the girl’s father and five other men immediately rushed to assist, they quickly became paralyzed by the shock of the water or trapped by the shifting ice sheets.
While several adults were stuck and struggling in the water, Vipan Kumar was the only one who managed to navigate through the ice. Fighting severe exhaustion and the onset of hypothermia, he reached the child and held her above the surface for nearly 30 minutes until emergency services arrived.
“He didn’t think about himself. No cameras. No applause. Just incredible courage and a big heart,” stated local counselor Teodor Sas, who was among the first to call for official recognition of the man’s bravery. “Humanity has no borders; courage has no passport.”
Both the young girl and her savior were transported to the hospital suffering from severe hypothermia. Medical staff confirmed that while their condition was critical upon arrival, both are now stable and expected to survive.
