A wave of admiration and solidarity has emerged for a heroic Greek Captain who played a crucial role during the massive July 26 forest fire on Kythera, Greece.
Demonstrating remarkable courage, Spyros Kasimatis—who has been offering boat tours for over thirty years to the small rocky islet of Hytra, just off Kapsali on Kythera’s southern tip—used his boat, Glass Bottom, to evacuate dozens of residents trapped in Limniona, risking both his life and boat.
Heroic rescue by Captain Kasimatis during Limniona, Kythera forest fire
As the fire closed in and residents found themselves with no escape route, Captain Kasimatis acted without hesitation, opening his boat to carry dozens of people to safety.
In the process, the vessel became severely overloaded and sustained extensive damage, with repair costs estimated at around $80,000. The Glass Bottom is now temporarily out of service, creating a significant gap in the island’s maritime services.
Community rallies to help local hero rebuild boat
In response, friends and locals launched an online support campaign through the GoGetFunding platform. By Tuesday, August 19, it had already raised over $32,000 from more than 300 donors, moving steadily toward the $80,000 goal.
The overwhelming support underscores the public’s recognition of Captain Kasimatis’ bravery in placing the safety of others above his own life and livelihood.
Public recognition for Captain who heroically saved many during Kythera forest fire
Actor Aimilios Chelakis, who was among those rescued, spoke publicly about the experience. He emphasized that he, his wife Athina Maximu, and over 138 others owe their lives to the captain’s decisive action. “There was a man who took on the responsibility of saving us,” Chelakis said, referring to the heroic Captain Kasimatis who selflessly put his life and boat on the line to save so many during the Kythera forest fire.
“His boat suffered tens of thousands of dollars in damage, and he won’t be compensated for this,” Chelakis added. “The government has no plan, and that is the problem. We must learn to prevent disasters, not just respond to them.”
