By Elisavet Georgiou, 24news
This interview is part of the series “Six Shocking Firefighter Testimonies.” The series offers a glimpse into the lives of those on the front lines. Firefighters recount moments that left an indelible mark, from challenging rescues and tragedies involving children, to the massive explosion in Mari. Through their stories, readers gain insight into the risks, emotions, and human side of firefighting.
“The most horrific crash”
Deputy Fire Chief Socrates Kyriakides, Assistant District Officer of Paphos Fire Stations, has served for 40 years. His career has been filled with danger, loss, and moments of humanity that define the firefighting profession.
He joined the service at 21, during a time when jobs were scarce. His first post was at the airport, where for six years he mostly handled minor incidents. He had no idea the career ahead would bring such defining experiences.
One that still stands out was a fatal car accident in which a driver was instantly killed by a collision with a truck. Kyriakides and two young colleagues were called to the scene. The most difficult moment, he said, was facing the victim’s family.
“What reassured us was that he left instantly, without pain,” Kyriakides said. “The way we coped was by talking to one another, an informal kind of psychological support.”
At the time, he noted, professional psychological services for firefighters didn’t exist. “Today there is support. The psychologists are part of the police, but we can also see them,” he said. Another way of coping, he added, was discussing the incident with the entire team, even those who hadn’t been on the call.
The ‘dragon’
Not every call was tragic. Kyriakides remembers the time a woman phoned the station in panic, saying there was a dragon in her yard.
“The terrifying creature turned out to be a large iguana that had escaped from its owner,” he said. “She had never seen such an animal before and thought the only way to describe it was as a dragon.”
Firefighters captured the animal and brought it back to the station, where they kept it until its grateful owner arrived. “We even played with it a little,” he said with a smile.
Rescue on the cliffs - for a donkey
Another unforgettable incident took place in Akamas, where a donkey had fallen into a 50-meter ravine. With the help of a veterinarian and using special rescue equipment, the team managed to pull it to safety.
“We placed the donkey with its legs folded on the stretcher, just as we do with people,” Kyriakides said. “The donkey cooperated. The owner wasn’t to blame. It had chewed through the rope and fell. He was overjoyed and thanked us from the bottom of his heart.”
“Bonds for life”
Looking back, Kyriakides says what he treasures most are the relationships built over decades of service.
“We became a family,” he said. “Godparent ties, friendships, trust, and love. If I could go back in time, I would choose again to become a firefighter, with the very same people.”
Testimonies like his show that the life of a firefighter is not only about battling fires. It is about human stories, bonds, and moments that leave a permanent mark.
