Chernobyl ‘suicide squad’ diver tells how he averted a second apocalyptic blast that would have devastated Europe
A CHERNOBYL engineer has recalled how he went into the nuclear reactor as part of a “suicide squad” to prevent a catastrophic second explosion. Protected only by diving equipment, Alexei Ananenko and two other men went in to drain millions of gallons of water from underneath the burning reactor. The massive explosion which ripped through […]
A CHERNOBYL engineer has recalled how he went into the nuclear reactor as part of a “suicide squad” to prevent a catastrophic second explosion.
Protected only by diving equipment, Alexei Ananenko and two other men went in to drain millions of gallons of water from underneath the burning reactor.
The massive explosion which ripped through the Chernobyl nuclear power plant complex is now the focus of a five-part Sky Original and HBO drama, airing on Sky Atlantic.
Mr Ananenko’s heroism came in the aftermath of the April 1986 explosion at the plant, in northern Ukraine.
Following the accident at Chernobyl’s Unit 4, all fires were extinguished within six hours – but a more dangerous problem soon emerged.
Days after the explosion, Soviet authorities made the horrifying discovery that the core of the reactor that had exploded was still melting down.
Underneath this was a huge pool of water, which acted as a coolant for the power plant, which, had they mixed, would have caused a second steam explosion.
SUICIDE MISSION
Firefighters had tried, unsuccessfully, to fully drain the pool containing 43 million gallons of water using specialised hoses.
This is where the Mr Ananenko and the other two men stepped in to go down to the water tank and open a valve to release the water.
They were told they could refuse the mission but nonetheless went ahead.
Using torches, the men found the locks for the water tank in the dark and quickly opened them to let the water escape and avert disaster.
“I never felt like a hero. I was doing my job. I was ordered to go there, so I went. I wasn’t afraid,” he said, the MailOnline reported.
“Immediately I heard a noise that meant the water was draining. That was amazing,” said Mr Ananenko.
UNIMAGINABLE DAMAGE
The disaster killed 31 people died – including two at the scene and 29 firefighters.
But the three men’s bravery prevented further catastrophic explosions and many more deaths occurring.
Andrew Leatherbarrow, author of 2016 book Chernobyl 01:23:40, explains: “This would have done unimaginable damage and destroyed the entire power station, including the three other reactors.”
Describing their heroic efforts, Leatherbarrow says: “The men entered the basement in wetsuits, radioactive water up to their knees, in a corridor stuffed with a myriad of pipes and valves…
“It was like finding a needle in a haystack.”
Initial reports were that the three men died of radiation poisoning but they all survived.
Baranov died in 2005 but Mr Bespalov is still alive and lives in the same district of the Ukrainian capital Kiev as Mr Ananenko.
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