<![CDATA[1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir.]]>1/2
In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. The trolley bus sank 80 feet offshore at a depth of 33 feet.
Shavarsh immediately dove in and swam to the bus and despite zero visibility, managed to kick in the back window, injuring himself in the process. He proceeded to save twenty people trapped in the bus, one at a time. Making forty dives in 20 minutes.
The combined effect of the cold water and his injuries from breaking the glass window led to his hospitalization for 45 days after the incident, during which time he developed pneumonia, sepsis, and lung damage which ended his athletic career.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/topic/d4dd8a0e-82b1-46f9-bbe0-b8a0818a8b95/1-2in-1976-shavarsh-karapetyan-an-armenian-olympic-swimmer-had-just-completed-a-12-mile-run-with-his-brother-when-they-saw-a-trolley-bus-crash-into-a-dam-reservoir.RSS for NodeSat, 25 Jul 2026 08:22:22 GMTTue, 07 Jul 2026 10:22:53 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:41:41 GMT]]>@Phosphenes @noodlemaz @MarkHoltom
Absolutely, but at that time in the USSR the bus windows would have been low quality sheet glass, not the layered and often curved stuff you find on today's cars and buses. Today he wouldn't have stood a chance breaking a window under water without tools.

But anyway, what a feat!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/gnaddrig/statuses/116880395590730336https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/gnaddrig/statuses/116880395590730336Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:41:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 18:36:47 GMT]]>@MarkHoltom This is a hero!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116213636521702584/statuses/116880140351759815https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116213636521702584/statuses/116880140351759815Tue, 07 Jul 2026 18:36:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 17:06:11 GMT]]>@nev Wikipedia is linked, and the details do not substantially vary.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/solitha/statuses/116879784103903971https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/solitha/statuses/116879784103903971Tue, 07 Jul 2026 17:06:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:45:46 GMT]]>@MarkHoltom

Somebody give that man a cape.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/TheManyVoices/statuses/116879703824463361https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/TheManyVoices/statuses/116879703824463361Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:45:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:45:44 GMT]]>@MarkHoltom The term "hero" is thrown around too much. This is what real heroism looks like. True, mindful, self-sacrifice in the service of others.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.me.uk/users/realcainmosni/statuses/116879703722986866https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.me.uk/users/realcainmosni/statuses/116879703722986866Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:45:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:37:57 GMT]]>@MarkHoltom https://eldritch.cafe/@temptoetiam/116879672151905138

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://eldritch.cafe/users/temptoetiam/statuses/116879673100587747https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://eldritch.cafe/users/temptoetiam/statuses/116879673100587747Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:37:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:24:53 GMT]]>@silvermoon82 @com @MarkHoltom Well, definitely a higher survival rate for folks who ride with him.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://epsilon-ix.masto.host/users/fuzzface/statuses/116879621717846153https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://epsilon-ix.masto.host/users/fuzzface/statuses/116879621717846153Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:24:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:19:36 GMT]]>@MarkHoltom Note: this text is copied and pasted from similar picspam/viral repost accounts. Some credit it to "Sara Wiley", but with no links to an original post. See e. g.:

- https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1242582444654682&id=100067088146868
- https://www.threads.com/@shady_et/post/DGxWlSRNGwi/in-1976-shavarsh-karapetyan-an-armenian-olympic-swimmer-had-just-completed-a-12m?hl=en

The first post actually links to an actual article with sources and more details: https://allthatsinteresting.com/shavarsh-karapetyan

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://flipping.rocks/users/nev/statuses/116879600958126748https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://flipping.rocks/users/nev/statuses/116879600958126748Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:19:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:50:12 GMT]]>@MarkHoltom mad respect.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.social/users/faraiwe/statuses/116879485362582524https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.social/users/faraiwe/statuses/116879485362582524Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:50:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:42:34 GMT]]>@MarkHoltom and an astroid named after him. Looks to be a pretty stable one though so unlikely his karma could bite us in that way.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.me.uk/users/emily_s/statuses/116879455315923230https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.me.uk/users/emily_s/statuses/116879455315923230Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:42:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:32:10 GMT]]>@MarkHoltom
What an act of courage, what a hero

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.me.uk/users/Christo_459/statuses/116879414437023325https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.me.uk/users/Christo_459/statuses/116879414437023325Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:32:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:19:30 GMT]]>@MarkHoltom What a great guy. I hope never to be anywhere near him lol

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.online/users/urig/statuses/116879364589056421https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.online/users/urig/statuses/116879364589056421Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:19:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:17:22 GMT]]>@notanowl @MarkHoltom

Reading these posts made me ask "Is this guy from Krypton?"

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/SeanPLynch/statuses/116879356233833255https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/SeanPLynch/statuses/116879356233833255Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:17:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:03:53 GMT]]>@com @MarkHoltom
TIL I don't want to get on a bus anywhere near this dude.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://wandering.shop/users/silvermoon82/statuses/116879303209884881https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://wandering.shop/users/silvermoon82/statuses/116879303209884881Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:03:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:03:29 GMT]]>@Phosphenes @noodlemaz @MarkHoltom

He'd just completed a 12 mile *swim*, and was running home...!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://climatejustice.social/users/RhinosWorryMe/statuses/116879301626999997https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://climatejustice.social/users/RhinosWorryMe/statuses/116879301626999997Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:03:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:50:44 GMT]]>@MarkHoltom I like that you excluded a couple additional surprising facts as an exercise for the reader.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/com/statuses/116879251488201182https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/com/statuses/116879251488201182Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:50:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:36:33 GMT]]>@MarkHoltom thank you for sharing this. What an exceptional human.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.nl/users/venite/statuses/116879195724603257https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.nl/users/venite/statuses/116879195724603257Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:36:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:29:27 GMT]]>@noodlemaz @MarkHoltom

Jesus. AFTER a 12 mile run.

Breaking glass underwater is not easy either, he probably cut his foot something awful.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Phosphenes/statuses/116879167802426589https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Phosphenes/statuses/116879167802426589Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:29:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:39:04 GMT]]>@MarkHoltom Wow. Armenian! Marvelous...though should point out he's still kicking at 73!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/FIAR_Light/statuses/116878969681263082https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/FIAR_Light/statuses/116878969681263082Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:39:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:27:50 GMT]]>@MarkHoltom

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.brotherpsyche.social/ap/users/116777439380292295/statuses/116878925506955061https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.brotherpsyche.social/ap/users/116777439380292295/statuses/116878925506955061Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:27:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:26:24 GMT]]>@MarkHoltom what a dude! Thank you for sharing

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.games/ap/users/115798900176839373/statuses/116878683937051679https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.games/ap/users/115798900176839373/statuses/116878683937051679Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:26:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 1/2In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir. on Tue, 07 Jul 2026 10:23:58 GMT]]>2/2
For years, his story wasn't known, until an article about the event identified him by name in 1982. In 1985, he happened to pass by a burning building and rushed inside, again saving people trapped inside one at a time until he collapsed. He was again hospitalized with severe burns and lung damage.
He's still kicking it at 66. Just an awesome person I learned about today and thought I'd share.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavarsh_Karapetyan

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodonapp.uk/users/MarkHoltom/statuses/116878202519402330https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodonapp.uk/users/MarkHoltom/statuses/116878202519402330Tue, 07 Jul 2026 10:23:58 GMT