In a remarkable event about the heroes in real life, three men performed a job that was widely regarded as the most dangerous in the world.
They knew the risks involved even caused the fatal outcome, but they willingly undertook the task of saving millions of lives.
Alexei Ananenko, Valeri Bezpalov, and Boris Barnov, who worked at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Pripyat, Ukraine, made a brave sacrifice in the 1980s.
During the early hours of April 26, 1986, Chernobyl's Reactor 4 experienced a catastrophic meltdown, resulting in explosions, fires, and the release of a devastating amount of radiation.
However, the deaths were reduced thanks to the brave and timely assistance of three men, Alexei Ananenko, Valeri Bezpalov, and Boris Barnov.
The immediate aftermath took numerous lives and left the long-term effects causing the deaths of thousands due to radiation-related illnesses.
An initial explosion at the power plant was extinguished by three firefighters by pumping water into the open-air reactor and flooding the vault to extinguish the massive fire.
However, another threat struck when the reactor was still melting and gradually spread to the 20 million-liter bubbling tanks below it.
A catastrophic steam explosion would definitely have ensued if the blazing hot reactor had come to this reservoir.
The consequences will have been catastrophic, as the contaminated water and nuclear fallout will have transformed Europe into an uninhabitable wasteland for half a million years.
To prevent this tragic event, the basement valves needed to be manually opened to drain the bubbler pools.
Regrettably, the valves were located in a dark, waterlogged area contaminated with radiation.
Despite the fatal risks, Ananenko, Bezpalov, and Barnov volunteered for the dangerous task.
Three men were equipped with only wetsuits and flashlights, they embarked on a mission to save the world, fully aware of the probable fatal consequences.
They quickly waded through knee-deep radioactive water, and one of the men discovered a pipe leading to the drainage valves.
They then immediately turned the valves, initiating the drainage process and averting the impending disaster.
Remarkably, all three divers survived the mission, narrowly escaping the Acute Radiation Syndrome that took the lives of many other Chornobyl workers.
In 2018, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko posthumously awarded Boris Barnov, who had passed away due to a heart condition in 2005, alongside Ananenko and Bezpalov, the Order For Courage to honor their heroic actions.
Their story gained further recognition when it was portrayed in HBO's acclaimed drama series, "Chernobyl."
To this day, people still debate what helped the three brave firefighters survive after making contact with radiation exposure.
Among them, water, known for its radiation-absorbing properties, reduces the risks associated with exposure.
Additionally, their wetsuits provide an extra layer of strong protection.
The important thing is the three men worked quickly, minimizing their radiation exposure and effectively completing the most dangerous job in the world.
