Yerevan Tales: The Finswimmer Who Saved 20 Lives from a Submerged Trolleybus

Shavarsh Vladimirovich Karapetyan (born May 19, 1953, in Kirovakan, Armenian SSR, USSR, now Vanadzor) is an Armenian finswimmer. He is an 11-time world record holder, 17-time world champion, 13-time European champion, and a seven-time USSR champion in finswimming.

On September 16, 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, accompanied by his brother Kamo and their coach, had just completed a 20-kilometer morning run. Near Yerevan Lake, they saw a trolleybus derail and plunge into the water. Without hesitation, Karapetyan leapt into action to rescue the passengers.

Diving to a depth of 10 meters in zero visibility, he broke the trolleybus’s rear window with his legs and managed to pull 23 people out of the submerged vehicle within 20 minutes. He passed the rescued passengers to his brother, who transferred them to a boat, from where they were taken to waiting vehicles.

Of the 23, 20 people survived thanks to the medical assistance provided onshore, while the other 26 people died.

The fact that so many lives were saved is also due to the air bubble that formed inside the trolleybus.

Shavarsh Karapetyan during training sessions

During one of his dives, Karapetyan accidentally retrieved a seat cushion instead of a person, a memory that haunted him for years, as he believed he could have saved another life. His body was severely lacerated by shards of broken glass, and the rescue efforts led to pneumonia complicated by sepsis. With a persistent fever of 40°C, he spent 45 days in the hospital. The pneumonia left adhesions in his lungs, causing pain and choking fits with every deep breath.

The trolleybus is being pulled out of Yerevan Lake

Despite his health challenges, Karapetyan resumed training after recovering from the 1976 events. In 1977, he set another world record in finswimming, completing a 400-meter dive in 3 minutes and 6.2 seconds. However, due to the long-term effects of his injuries, he could no longer continue his sports career and decided to retire. Later, he served as the director of a youth sports school in Yerevan.

On May 24, 2010, he was awarded the Medal of Courage by a decree of the President of Armenia.