Vipin Kumar, an Indian construction worker in Romania, has been granted honorary citizenship by the city of Craiova after risking his life to save a five-year-old girl from a frozen lake, DD India reported. The heroic rescue took place in January at Nicolae Romanescu Park in Craiova when the young girl slipped through a thin layer of ice and started to struggle in the sub-zero water.
Kumar was walking nearby with a friend when he witnessed the child fall through. Without hesitation, Kumar used a nearby sledge to slide toward her. When the ice broke beneath him as well, he plunged into the freezing water, managing to grab the child and hold her above the surface for nearly 30 minutes until emergency crews arrived.
Romanya’da donmuş göle düşen çocuğu kurtaran Vipan Kumar, fahri hemşehrilik unvanı aldı:
🔺 Ocak ayında Romanya’nın Craiova kentinde 5 yaşındaki bir kız çocuğu, kızaktan inip donmuş gölün üzerine koşunca buzun kırılmasıyla suya düştü.
🔺 O sırada yürüyüşte olan 47 yaşındaki… pic.twitter.com/MjV7gv6jwE
— Hakikat Haber (@hakikatajans) June 15, 2026
Both Kumar and the girl suffered severe hypothermic shock and were rushed to the hospital, where they received treatment. Local authorities noted that the girl’s father had also tried to reach her but became trapped in the broken ice.
Moved by his selflessness, Craiova Mayor Lia Olguta Vasilescu proposed the extraordinary honour. The title of Honorary Citizen was formally conferred on June 4 during a ceremony attended by India’s Ambassador to Romania, Dr Manoj Kumar Mohapatra.
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Speaking at the event, the ambassador noted that Kumar’s bravery perfectly mirrored India’s core values of service and humanity. It also reflects the ancient philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which means “The World is One Family”.
“What Mr Vipin Kumar did is a true symbol of India,” the ambassador told the audience.
Kumar, who moved to Romania in June 2025 to work as a construction labourer, remained incredibly humble when speaking to Romanian broadcaster Digi24.
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“I just tried to get her out of the water; that’s all I thought about. The little girl was very brave,” he recalled.
Alongside the ceremonial title, the city announced that Kumar would receive additional practical benefits, including an expedited residence permit.
A video of the dramatic rescue has since gone viral on social media, drawing immense global praise from Romanians and Indians alike.
