The listeners of national broadcaster RÚV’s Rás 2 radio station voted fisherman Eiríkur Ingi Jóhannsson as 2012’s Person of the Year. Eiríkur was the sole survivor of the crew of the trawler Hallgrímur SI-77, which sank west of Norway last January.

Eiríkur was hauled onboard a helicopter after hours in the ocean. He told his story shortly after the accident on RÚV’s news magazine Kastljós on February 1, which garnered significant attention, both in Iceland and abroad.

Iceland Review’s coverage of the accident and Eiríkur’s feat was among our top stories last year.

When accepting the award on Monday, Eiríkur said on Rás 2 that the interview helped him cope with the trauma following the accident and losing his friends and colleagues, Gísli Garðarsson, Einar G. Gunnarsson and Magnús Þórarinn Daníelsson.

Eiríkur added that he was deeply touched by the nation’s reaction to his story.

Click here to read more about it and here to watch the interview with Eiríkur with English subtitles.

ESA