When flames engulfed the “Pulse” nightclub in Kočani, North Macedonia, on a dark Sunday night, 19-year-old Jovan Kostadinov didn’t hesitate. As panic surged and smoke filled the air, he pushed past fear, pulled his shirt over his face, and ran into the burning building — not once, but over and over again — saving 21 lives.
The fire claimed 59 lives and left nearly 200 injured, marking one of the deadliest tragedies in the country’s recent history. Yet amid the heartbreak, Jovan’s bravery has become a symbol of hope. Across social media, he’s hailed as the “Quiet Hero” of Kočani. Citizens are urging the government to honor him with a medal for bravery.
One witness recounted Jovan’s daring actions: “He found water nearby, soaked his shirt, covered his face, and went back in. People were screaming, trapped in the smoke. He just kept going, pulling them out, one by one.”
A mother of one survivor shared her gratitude: “In the darkest moments, when everyone was running for their lives, Jovan carried my son on his back through flames and smoke, all the way to the hospital.”
Now recovering at Skopje’s Clinical Center for smoke inhalation, Jovan is stable but shaken. “You can’t describe what I saw,” he says quietly. “Your friends dying in your arms… you just try to get them out.”
Jovan’s story is even more poignant considering the hardships he’s endured. His mother, a driving instructor, tragically died in a car accident just two years ago. His father, Darko Kostadinov, works at the Vinica Social Work Center and is known for his compassion and dedication to helping vulnerable families. “He’s a great man,” say locals. “It’s no wonder his son grew up to be a hero.”
A talented boxer and off-road biking champion, Jovan has always been drawn to challenges. “The discipline from sports and the values his parents instilled in him made him act the way he did,” says a family friend.
As the country mourns, it also celebrates Jovan’s courage. North Macedonia’s President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova visited the survivors, taking a moment to personally thank Jovan for his extraordinary bravery. “This young man saved 21 lives,” she said. “His actions remind us of the power of selflessness and courage.”
Jovan Kostadinov — the quiet hero of Kočani — may not see himself as a savior. But for 21 families, and a grieving nation, he will forever be remembered as the boy who ran into the fire. /BV
