INTERVIEW/1 year on from Hualien quake rescue, Greek hiker promotes mental health

By Sunny Lai, CNA staff reporter

On April 3, 2024, Greek hiker Dimitris Belbas' quick thinking and years of scouting experience helped save the lives of 10 people trapped in Hualien County's Taroko Gorge by a devastating magnitude 7.1 earthquake.

While Belbas -- dubbed "a Greek hero" by Taiwan's press -- escaped physical injury, the mental toll led to an eventual diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

A year on from the earthquake, Belbas is now turning his attention to raising awareness of mental health issues and reducing stigmas surrounding seeking help.

Dealing with trauma

The 51-year-old told CNA in a recent video interview from his home in Singapore that despite being initially open to recounting his experience, he increasingly began to feel "something was wrong."

Immediately after the quake, Belbas threw himself into his work, a choice which he said "was not the best decision."

"I shouldn't have left my family. I shouldn't have jumped right away in trying to carry on with life. We humans sometimes want just to get over with and move on with our lives."

Burdened by expectations to put on a brave face, Belbas said that many, particularly men, avoid discussing mental health issues. "[I'm] a successful family person, a successful business person, why should I have any weaknesses?"

Belbas added that in the days following the earthquake, "I felt sick. I was very weak. I couldn't eat anything. Slowly, what had happened was dawning on me."

His subconscious occasionally betrayed his true feelings. In a post-rescue interview with CNA a few days after the quake, Belbas occasionally glanced at a bottle of water to check for tremors.

At the suggestion of his longtime therapist, Belbas decided to stop media appearances. Instead, he focused on recovery: spending more time with his family, reducing business travel, and "slowing down to take it all in."

Belbas said "the biggest lesson" for those dealing with mental health issues is that they should feel "safe asking for help."

"We are not superhuman, we are not," he added.

Opening up again

Earlier this year, Belbas felt ready to open up again.

"I'm more confident, I feel better talking about it again," Belbas said, noting that he can now look at the event "from a different angle."

As part of this, he has given talks on the technical aspects of his rescue efforts to schools and scout troops in a number of different countries.

"It's very important to be prepared. If you go to the mountain, make sure you have the right clothes, the right shoes, and a jacket because you just never know what could potentially happen."

Belbas added that retracing his actions during the rescue at public talks has also helped with his PTSD. "It helps to talk about it after a certain period, and analyze it."

Yet Belbas emphasized that proper preparation can only go so far in a disaster.

He said that the most crucial factor in his group's survival in Taroko was "we were all very lucky," having managed to avoid being hit by rocks and also found a tunnel to shelter in.

"There were 20 people who were unlucky on that day. It's very sad."

The Hualien earthquake claimed 20 lives and injured over 1,000, with many parts of the county's infrastructure and tourist sites still awaiting restoration -- including the Baiyang Trail, where he was trapped, which remains closed to this day.

In his public talks, Belbas said he tells those listening that his actions were not in the realm of the superhuman.

"I truly believe that everybody at a certain moment in time can provide assistance and help. Every one of us can be a hero."

Returning to mental health, Belbas added that everybody should also feel free to seek help when necessary.

Looking ahead

In May 2024, the Baiyang Trail hikers reunited in Taipei to watch Belbas throw the ceremonial first pitch at a Wei Chuan Dragons home game.

"I was more scared about the pitch than during the earthquake! I got a lot of pressure from my daughters not to embarrass them," Belbas said.

The family of five he helped rescue has since become, in his words, "a new family."

Belbas said he remains in touch with them and hopes the bond continues "for as long as possible."

"Something really good came out of it, out of a day of extreme danger," he said.

Belbas has visited Taiwan six times since the quake, mainly due to work and family gatherings, but not Hualien -- yet.

"The fear never leaves… We just learn to live with it," he said, noting that as both Taiwan and Greece are earthquake-prone countries, the reality is that such risks are something "we will never escape."

But he said that his experiences, rather than discouraging him, have led him to live in the moment.

"In Greek mythology, the most potent goddesses were the three goddesses of fate, of destiny."

"Make the most out of what you can any day. Because you just never know. You never know what can happen. And we shouldn't waste opportunities."

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