Meet the Indian-origin worker who saved a 5-year-old girl from a frozen lake in Romania

An Indian-origin construction worker has been hailed as a hero in Romania after he risked his life to rescue a five-year-old girl who fell through the ice of a frozen lake in the city of Craiova earlier this year.

The man, identified as 47-year-old Vipan Kumar, has since been awarded honorary citizenship of Craiova in recognition of his bravery.

The incident took place in January when Kumar was out walking with a friend in a city park and noticed the young girl struggling in the icy water after falling through a frozen lake. Without hesitation, he jumped into the freezing lake in an attempt to save her.

Recalling the moment, Kumar told Romanian broadcaster Digi24 that everything happened very quickly. “I was on a walk with a friend. I saw the little girl in the water, then I jumped immediately. The water was very cold,” he said.

He added that there was no time to think about the danger. “I just tried to get her out of the water, that’s all I thought about. The little girl was very brave,” he said.

Footage of the rescue later circulated on social media, showing Kumar attempting to reach the child across the ice on a sleigh before the ice beneath him broke. Despite the risk, he managed to grab the girl and keep her above water until emergency services arrived.

Both Kumar and the child were pulled from the lake and taken to hospital suffering from hypothermic shock. They were later reported to be in stable condition.

The incident unfolded in a public park where the child had been visiting with her parents. According to reports, she had been playing near the frozen lake when she ran onto the ice, which then cracked beneath her. Her father attempted to rescue her but also became trapped in the broken ice before bystanders alerted emergency services.

Craiova Mayor Lia Olguţa Vasilescu later announced that Kumar would be granted honorary citizenship, describing his actions as a selfless act of courage.

“I decided to propose that he gets the title of honorary citizen. Craiova Local Council will formally grant the title,” she said, adding that his actions should serve as an example to others.

The mayor also shared details of Kumar’s background, noting that he had arrived in Romania in June 2025 and had recently begun working in construction in Dolj County.

Kumar’s employer has also praised his bravery and is reportedly considering sending him on a trip to India so he can reunite with his family. He has an eight-year-old daughter.