Polyvios Kossivas, left, received the 2004 Prêmio Brasil Olímpico from Athens 2004 marathon bronze medallist Vanderlei de Lima for his actions which helped him after he was attacked during the race ©Getty Images

The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) have described Polyvios Kossivas, the Greek spectator who intervened after Brazilian Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima was impeded during the 2004 Olympic Marathon in Athens, as a "guardian angel" following his death at the age of 71.

The actions of Kossivas helped De Lima, who had been leading the race at the time of the incident, to continue and eventually take the bronze medal.

"At that moment, Polyvios Kossivas became a national Olympic sports hero for an act that is remembered and revered to this day in Brazil and worldwide," COB President Paulo Wanderley said. 

"The COB mourns the death of Polyvios and would like to convey its deepest sympathies to his family," 

Polyvios Kossivas, left, with Athens 2004 marathon bronze medallist Vanderlei de Lima at a Brazilian Olympic Committee Ceremony in Rio ©Getty Images
Polyvios Kossivas, left, with Athens 2004 marathon bronze medallist Vanderlei de Lima at a Brazilian Olympic Committee Ceremony in Rio ©Getty Images

Earlier this week Kossivas's daughter Smaragda Tsirka sent a message from Greece to the COB in which she remembered her father.

"He was a simple, generous, caring and selfless man and was respected by all," Tsirka said.

"He loved my mother Ioulia and me, he raised me by giving me everything generously.

"He was the friend everyone would want to have, the father every child should have, If all people were like him, the world we live in would be wonderful."

Kossivas had been a basketball player and later a referee in the sport and also worked as a salesman.

Polyvios Kossivas helped restrain Neil Horan who had attempted to disrupt the Athens 2004 Olympic marathon ©Getty Images
Polyvios Kossivas helped restrain Neil Horan who had attempted to disrupt the Athens 2004 Olympic marathon ©Getty Images

He had acted when saw that De Lima had been knocked down by Neil Horan, who had been a priest in Ireland but later laicized.

"Polyvios invaded the track, pushed the aggressor, and allowed Vanderlei to continue the race to finish in third position and win the bronze medal," said a COB statement.

De Lima was later awarded the Pierre de Coubertin medal for his sportsmanship and remains the only Brazilian to receive the distinction.

He was also selected to light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. 

Vanderlei Lima was able to continue the 2004 marathon and win a bronze medal as a result of the actions of Greek spectator Polyvios Kossivas ©Getty Images
Vanderlei Lima was able to continue the 2004 marathon and win a bronze medal as a result of the actions of Greek spectator Polyvios Kossivas ©Getty Images

Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo newspaper tracked down Kossivas in Athens.

At the time, Kossivas had admitted that he had "acted impulsively without measuring the risks."

He was invited to Brazil where he was reunited with De Lima.

Kossivas was presented with the Prêmio Brasil Olímpico, the Brazilian Olympic Committee's top honour, by De Lima at a special presentation Ceremony in Rio de Janeiro. 

It later emerged that Horan had previously attempted to disrupt the Formula One British Grand Prix in 2003 and that the authorities had issued warnings about him to other sporting events.

Last year, Horan demonstrated at Westminster against the appointment of new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.