Albanian man who dived into river to save his two deceased children from drowning gets tattooed on their faces

Levian Goga, an Albanian who dived into the Arahthos River in Greece to save two children from drowning, has tattooed the faces and names of the minors.

The tattoo shows Goga herself, holding Nis and Spiro in each arm, while angel wings appear around them.

This tattoo, made on the shoulder, on the arm where the heart beats, serves as a symbol of memory and honor for the two children, despite Goga's superhuman efforts to save them.

The fellow national has stated that his actions to save the children were not to obtain Greek citizenship.

"I was informed that they had granted me Greek citizenship. The minister called me yesterday and said: 'I'm waiting for you in the office to hug you, greet you and have a coffee' and to grant me citizenship. I have been in Greece for 20 years with documents, without documents. I came when I was 17 and I am 41. Greece is my second country. I grew up here, the best years of my life. I didn't do it for citizenship. I am grateful that they will give the whole family identity cards, but I thought from the moment I entered that my child was inside. I wanted to get him out as soon as I could. And I thank everyone, all of Greece has called me, ministers, everyone who saw my number has called me," said Goga, Protothema reports.

The two children in Greece, who were initially saved from drowning by Goga, suffered clinical death. Their organs were donated by the parents of the 14 and 12-year-olds. Flowers have been placed at the scene of the incident, while a letter has been left there by the relatives and friends of the two minors.

"We will remember you forever, you left as heroes! Your friendship!", the letter reads.

There was the Albanian Levian Goga, who, without thinking twice, jumped into the Arahthos River in Arta when he saw minors in the river who were in danger. Levian, or Leo as his friends call him, is from Berat. He emigrated to Athens 24 years ago when he was 17 years old.

For the past five years, he has been living in Artë with his wife and their two children, ages 10 and 6. His wife grew up in Greece and they met through a common-law relationship.

For the Greek press, the Albanian told how he learned about the children who were in danger of drowning and that he jumped into the river without thinking twice.

"I was in a cafe. A guy on a motorbike came and shouted 'help, two children are drowning in the river!' Without thinking, I started running. I took the car and went to the scene. I entered the reeds, nothing was visible. We got into a boat with some others. I jumped once, nothing. The second time I took a deep breath, I dived down, about eight meters. There I saw one. He was lying, motionless, with a blackened face, hands and feet spread. As if he were dead. I grabbed him, with difficulty I pulled him out. Then I heard that they had found the other one. I jumped again, two or three times. I found him. He was upside down at the bottom. When I pulled him out, blood was coming out of his mouth and nose. I was very scared," says Leo.

"One was my daughter's age. I don't care who they are, what race, what religion. I'm a foreigner, but I'm human. I did what any parent would do. I only have the children on my mind," he continued his story, his voice trembling with emotion.

He said he only hopes the children will leave in peace, but unfortunately the minors did not make it.

"I hope they survive. They wake up. They live their lives. They are children, it's a sin. Now my children are crying at home. I have to go back," were his last words before hanging up the phone in a statement to the Greek media.

Greek media have highly praised the Albanian's act, saying that he is a simple man who does not seek any reward, was in the right place at the right time, and acted without hesitation, even risking his own life.