The owner of the tow truck that helped rescue dozens of people, Michalis Protopsaltis became the face of the day, from coast to coast across the country, but also on social media where thousands of users praise him with honorific comments.
And while the residents of Kythera, along with the authorities, the firefighters, the coastguards gave the message of solidarity that reached every corner of the world, in the face of Michael Protopsaltis, the gratitude of thousands of Greeks who have been watching this tragedy with bated breath in the last days. Here are the comments on Twitter and Facebook that received hundreds of shares.
A crane owner in Kythera took the crane, set it up on the cliff above the wreck, threw a rope and with it he saved 80 lives hanging from the rocks. His name was Michael Protopsalti. A man with a capital A.
Mr. Michael who without a second thought brought his crane, stretched ropes and with his hands saved 80 souls... Be like Mr. Michael 🖤
Protopsaltis Michalis is the name of the Man in #Kythera who took his crane, set it up on the cliff above the #wreck, and by throwing a rope with a sack, he lifted 80 castaways and saved their lives. We stand for solidarity and humanity, against xenophobia and racism
Michael Protopsaltis is the name of the Man in the #Cythera who took his crane, set it up on the cliff above the #snail, and by throwing a rope with a sack, he lifted 80 castaways and saved their lives. We stand for solidarity and humanity, against xenophobia and racism. pic.twitter.com/MtV0YVoPGG
- THANASIS GOUNARIS (@THANASIGOUNARIS) October 7, 2022
His name is Michalis Protopsaltis
He is the owner and operator of the tow truck in Kythera who, along with all the other people there, helped save 80 lives!!!
He didn't wonder why he was here
He didn't wonder if they had another to go
He didn't wonder who they were
He did not question politics and power
He didn't ask himself “yes, if they were Greeks”.
He did not wonder about the after. .
He didn't question anything.
He just saved lives. .
Because in the face of the choice of life or death the answer is only one
There are no equal distances.
Those who are wondering, those who are on the yes but, may not want to admit it but they probably wouldn't care too much if they were dead.
Unfortunately this is the truth
One man, Michael Protopsaltis, saved with his crane 80 souls who were stranded on the rocks, between life and death. This great resident of Kythera became a hero by an event. But he is a Man every day of his life. And he will remain so when we forget him. Because unfortunately we will forget him. But something tells me that he doesn't give a damn, like every great man of our times.
The poem today is Mr Michael Protopsaltis, that silky man, according to the poet, who hurried, set up his crane and saved 80 sea-sick souls on the rocks of Kythera in the middle of the night. Let us show the good, the bright face of this country. It exists and we do not see it. That other, the irritable one, who raises a Nazi hand in court, who should have been disbarred immediately while his son remains Minister of Health, let us demand that justice be done in our frayed post-democracy. We firmly with the Bees, with the Mr. Michalis of this country and the wolves back to their nests.
Whoever saves the drowned Whoever feeds the hungry Whoever lifts the fallen Carries the whole quality of Man The rest of us just use it and live parasitically, adventurously and self-centeredly. Thank you for saving us some of our dignity 🫂 We kiss your hand, the one you reached out and caught them from the watery grave 🫴 The sweetness of your soul is not found in all the loukoumi of Kythera.
Protopsaltis Michalis is his name...he is the owner of the crane in Kythera who set up the crane, threw a rope and saved 80 lives. A man with an A Capital...may your mother and your family rejoice with you my friend...the rest of us just bow
“Everything I am, or hope to be, I owe to my mother,” Abraham Lincoln said. And Michael Protopsaltis became a Man with a capital A! The state must first honor this 96-year-old Mother, to be proud in her final days of the son she gave birth to, and who, with the help of his fellow citizens, saved 80 people! Mayor of Kythera, “If it wasn't for Michael bringing the crane, we would all be drowned”!
A crane owner in Kythera took the crane, set it up on the cliff above the wreck, threw a rope and with it he saved 80 lives hanging from the rocks. His name was Michael Protopsalti. #anYou wantToYour name isman
