In a moment that highlighted extraordinary bravery and pure human instinct, an Albanian citizen living in Italy became the hero of the day. The city of Padova witnessed a rare act of courage when 32-year-old Elton Zefi, originally from Albania, saved the life of an Italian elderly man after his car plunged into the waters of the Battaglia canal.
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| Elton Zefi jumping into the river to save the elderly man |
A Birthday Turned Into a Life-Saving Mission
On what was supposed to be a normal workday, Elton was driving along a narrow road next to the Battaglia canal. Traffic was heavy, so he and a colleague tried taking a smaller parallel route. That decision placed him at the right spot, at the right time.
At around 11:30 AM, several alarmed bystanders began shouting that a car had just veered off the road and was sinking into the canal — with the driver still trapped inside.
Without hesitation, without thinking twice, and without waiting for emergency services to arrive, Elton made the choice that separates bystanders from heroes.
“I saw the car sinking. I removed my clothes and jumped. The man was dying,” he said later, still shaken from the experience.
The Struggle Underwater: A Race Against Seconds
Elton, standing nearly two meters tall and weighing 95 kilograms, used every bit of his athletic strength to dive into the freezing water. Another man also jumped in to help, and together they tried desperately to break the car windows. But the glass didn’t give in.
Every second mattered. The vehicle was descending deeper, water filling the interior, oxygen running out. The crowd above watched helplessly as the two rescuers fought the impossible.
“It was getting dramatic,” Elton recalled. “Nothing was working. The cold was unbearable. I started getting cramps. I was losing strength.”
A Final Glimpse of Hope: The Hand from the Back Seat
As all attempts seemed to fail, something caught Elton’s eye — a small movement inside the car.
“Suddenly I saw a hand moving from the back seat,” he said.
It was a miracle: the rear window was slightly open.
This was the only way out, and the only chance to save the elderly driver.
Elton gathered the last of his strength, pushed himself underwater, and reached inside the car. He tried once… failed. Tried again… nothing. Exhausted, freezing, and almost ready to give up, he made one final push.
That final push saved a life.
“I used all the strength I had left… and I got him out,” Elton shared emotionally.
Together with the other rescuer, they managed to pull the old man to safety on the canal bank. Shortly after, firefighters and emergency medical teams arrived — but the life had already been saved by two ordinary citizens, one of them an Albanian celebrating his 32nd birthday in the most unforgettable way.
An Emotional Reunion: Not Just a Stranger
There was one more twist — the kind that makes this story almost destined.
Only later did Elton discover that the man he saved was Giuseppe Salvalajo, an 85-year-old entrepreneur from Loreggia and owner of Villa Molin in Mandria — a place where Elton himself had worked years ago.
“When I introduced myself, he recognized me immediately and hugged me. It was an extraordinary moment that rewarded all the physical and mental exhaustion,” Elton said.
A Story That Honors the Albanian Community Abroad
At a time when headlines often highlight negative stories, this event stands as a powerful reminder of the humanity, bravery, and dignity found within the Albanian community across Europe.
Elton Zefi didn’t just save a life.
He reminded thousands that courage has no nationality — and that Albanians abroad continue to bring honor through their actions, contributions, and values.
This is not just a rescue.
This is a story of character, sacrifice, and the deep-rooted Albanian instinct to help others — even at the risk of one’s own life.
A story worth sharing.
A story worth remembering.
A story that makes every Albanian proud.