Bulgaria's Man of the Year Sees Childhood Dream Come True

The life of the young mechanic from the small town of Chirpan changed forever after he saved the lives of eight victims of a hellish bus crash in Bulgaria in June. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Stefan Ivanov, 29, a mechanic who turned into a national hero after coming first to the rescue of the victims of a hellish bus crash in Bulgaria last summer, is on his way to achieve his biggest dream – be a firefighter.

The job proposal has come from the authorities in the town of Stara Zagora and Stefan is determined to put in huge efforts to prove his abilities.

The life of the young mechanic from the small town of Chirpan changed forever after he saved the lives of eight victims of a hellish bus crash in Bulgaria in June. Another nine died.

Days after the tragedy the young man, together with his wife and daughter, visited those who survived the tragedy, some of them thanks to no other but him, at the hospital in the town of Plovdiv.

He brought them icons of Jesus Christ in the hope for sacred healing and was hailed as a national hero.

At the beginning of the year Stefan made headlines across Bulgaria after being named "Man of the Year 2011", the first not public figure to come out as a winner in the prestigious contest.

He made it to the top after defeating Simeon Shterev, coach of Bulgaria's top female wrestler Stanka Zlateva, and actor Hristo Mutafchiev.

Ivanov collected 6804 online votes, way ahead of Mutafchiev (435) and Shterev (407).

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