A powerful video circulating online captures the moment two kitesurfers in Greece heroically save a family—a tourist and his ten-year-old daughter—from treacherous sea currents off the coast of Epanomi near Thessaloniki, Greece on Friday, July 11.
One of the athletes involved in the dramatic rescue is Anastasis Garipis, a 21-year-old competitive athlete from Thessaloniki. Garipis has earned multiple accolades in his sporting career, including a gold medal at the 2020 European Laser 4.7 Youth U18 Championship.
How the rescue unfolded
The incident occurred when strong winds and powerful sea currents swept the father and daughter away from the shoreline. The two kitesurfers, who had been training nearby, noticed the pair struggling in open water. They quickly approached on their boards and provided support, allowing the victims to hold on until additional help arrived.
A rescue boat from the local hunting association was soon at the scene, and personnel from the Greek Coast Guard, emergency medical services (EKAV), and local police completed the operation. The father and daughter made it safely to shore, expressing deep gratitude to the young athletes for their prompt response to the emergency.
Garipis’ father later shared footage of the incident on Facebook, writing:
“My hero spotted and rescued a tourist father and his ten-year-old daughter who had been swept away by the current outside the Thermaic Gulf.”
https://www.facebook.com/100000255721701/videos/1392720855170996/
“They were using our boards to stay afloat for about 45 minutes”
Garipis described the rescue in an interview with Thestival, providing firsthand insight into the dangerous conditions:
“I was out training with two friends at the Epanomi River because the wind was strong. I moved closer to the river mouth, where the water was calmer, when I spotted two [distant] heads in the middle of nowhere—a man and his daughter. I immediately went over and gave them my board so they could rest.
The current was incredibly strong and the water freezing cold. Even in my wetsuit, I started going numb after about 30 minutes. They were only in swimsuits. I tried to find a way to get us all back to shore, but the wind and current made it impossible.”
Garipis called over a fellow athlete who remained with the father and daughter while he went in search of a boat for help. Emergency services had already been alerted, and he soon spotted a fishing boat in the distance.
“I signaled to the boat and guided it to where they were,” he added. “They had been using our boards to float for about 45 minutes. I honestly can’t imagine how far they might have drifted, or what would have happened, if we hadn’t seen them in that moment.”
Hidden dangers in the waters in Greece where the two kitesurfers saved the family
Garipis emphasized that this particular stretch of coastline in Greece where the two kitesurfers saved the family—a father and his daughter—can be deceptively hazardous. “That area is especially dangerous,” he explained. “The underwater geography and strong winds create intense currents. You can be swept away very quickly without realizing it.”
The young athlete’s quick thinking and bravery likely prevented a tragedy—and his actions are now being recognized across Greece as a reminder of both the risks of the sea and the power of human response.
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