Bulgaria Awards Costa Concordia Hero

Petar Petrov is pictured here upon his arrival at Burgas airport after the Costa Concordia tragedy in January this year. Photo by 24 Hours daily

Bulgarian cruise ship technician Petar Petrov,  who saved hundreds of people aboard Costa Concordia cruise liner, will be awarded the order of courage first degree by his native country.

Petrov was a member of the crew of the Costa Concordia cruise liner, which capsized off the coast of Tuscany in Italy. He saved the lives of over 500 people.

In January, the luxury Costa Concordia ship ran aground in shallows some 300 meters away from the Tuscany Giglio Island. This led to a capsizing of the large vessel, after a 70 meter hole formed in the body of the ship, filling it with water.

3 200 passengers and 1 023 crew members were on board at the time of the incident.

Risking his own life, the Bulgarian technician did six runs with a lifeboat which holds 150 people. He was one of the last three crew members that did not leave the ship until the coastguard officials told them they took control over the operation.

Petrov is also among the 37 European Union citizens designated with the European Citizen's Prize.

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