Shavarsh Karapetyan- The Finswimmer That Saved Lives

On a calm late summer day in Yerevan, Armenia, a trolleybus veered off the road and into Yerevan Lake. While most people looked on in terror, Karapetyan intervened.

He only had one aim in mind: to save as many people as possible. Karapetyan, a 23-year-old champion finswimmer, dove into the lake, swam down to the submerged bus, and smashed a window with his feet. Then he began to pull the terrified, drowning passengers to safety.

That day, Karapetyan became a hero. But it wasn't the first or last time he'd gone into danger to save the lives of strangers.

Karapetyan Early Success

Shavarsh Karapetyan appeared to be destined for greatness for a long time. Born on May 19, 1953, in Armenia, he showed early aptitude as an athlete.

Karapetyan began his gymnastics training at the prompting of his father, but his coach told him he started his training too late to become a champion. He then attempted to become a swimmer, but lacked the essential suppleness. Karapetyan eventually chose on finswimming, where his muscular build and boundless energy offered him an advantage.

Finswimming, a sport in which swimmers compete underwater with fins strapped to their feet, necessitates endurance and strength. Finswimmers would employ snorkels or oxygen tanks for lengthy distances. They'd basically hold their breath for short ones.

Karapetyan worked hard in order to please his father. He practiced running up to 18 miles per day with a sand-filled backpack, jogging with boards strapped to his feet, and holding his breath.

Soon, his efforts began to bear fruit. At the 1972 European Championships in Moscow, Karapetyan won gold in the 50 and 100-meter sprints.

Karapetyan demonstrated his courage in the face of danger during the same period. He was riding a bus to a sports facility in 1974 when the driver got out to inspect the engine. However, the motorist failed to apply the handbrake.

Karapetyan dashed into the driver's cabin and took control as the bus slid backwards toward a gaping valley. He slammed on the brake, evading tragedy.

Shavarsh Karapetyan found himself on the verge of tragedy again two years later.

When Trolleybus  crashed into Yerevan Lake

Shavarsh Karapetyan's athletic career had taken a sharp, devastating turn by 1976. He'd been dropped from the Soviet national squad for no apparent reason. It was possible because he was young, had lately been ill, or was Armenian, he reflected.

On September 16, 1976, the 23-year-old proceeded to run around the manmade lake in the middle of the country's capital, Yerevan, to relieve some of his irritation. Karapetyan went off on a 13-mile run with his brother, Kamo, and his coach — and a 45-pound load of sand on his back.

He was rushing when he heard a loud noise. When Karapetyan looked up, he noticed that a trolleybus had gone off the road and into the lake. 

But instinct took over at that point. Shavarsh Karapetyan dashed to the lake, inhaled deeply, and dove in. He swam fifteen feet beneath the surface and used his left leg to kick open a window. He reached inside, blinded by the swirling mud, and he looked for any survivors.

He dove 40 times more, bringing up as many people as he could. Karapetyan returned beneath the surface after giving them off to his brother, who was also a champion swimmer and stayed on the surface to bring them to land.

Shavarsh Karapetyan dove until he was begged to stop by rescue workers. He dove until he resurfaced with only a cushion and realized he was fainting from a lack of oxygen.

He eventually dragged 37 people out of the lake, 20 of whom survived. The remaining nine people escaped on their own through the smashed window.