It's a moment that's come to symbolise the heavy toll Greece's financial uncertainty has had on some of its most vulnerable residents.
Giorgos Chatzifotiadis was among the growing number of pensioners lining up outside Greek banks in desperate need of cash. The 77-year-old was trying to access his wife's pension on her behalf.
He was so emotional he sat on the footpath and wept openly until police came by to move him along.
But after being turned away from four different branches across Thessaloniki, he broke down in tears.
The images have since circulated around the world. But for Sydney businessman James Koufos, they hit much closer to home.
"He was identified by my mum letting me know he was an old friend of my dad's," he said. "He showed the face of Greece. The man was in total despair and he'd just given up.
"He had nothing more to give and you could see his heart, his soul was broken.
Help from afar
Mr Koufos said Mr Chatzifotiadis is a proud man, embarassed by the subsequent coverage of his outburst. But Mr Koufos is now working to make sure it wasn't in vain.
He's since contacted Mr Chatzifotiadis offering to cover his pension for a year. That amounts to about $20,000. In the coming days Mr Koufos will travel to Greece to meet him personally, which has prompted a flood of phonecalls and emails.
"It's been ridiculous," he said. "I've probably slept two hours since Sunday night."
"There's probably about three or four countries in the world that haven't contacted me yet. I've done interviews with every TV station, radio stations around the world.
"A lot of people offering me support, some financially (like) cheaper airline tickets all the way to accommodation.
"We've also had politicians in Greece contact us to meet up with us. That awareness I think is worth a lot more than the monetary value that we're providing."
While Mr Koufos is planning to carry as much cash as legally possible into Greece, he's also welcoming more conventional contributions here in Australia. He's set up a trust that he said will forward money to Greek charities specialising in support for pensioners and children.
Sydney Greeks still reaching out
Harry Danalis from the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW said donations collected through local telethons, churches and welfare groups have been steady since the crisis began. But despite such generosity, they remain a "quick fix".
"The long-term solution depends on Europe reducing this debt, and the government being allowed to take measures that are going to stimulate the Greek economy and restore confidence and employment," he said.
Ahead of his trip, Mr Koufos remains undeterred.
"By doing this, we're giving hope to Greece as a whole. Even by this small gesture," he said.
For more information, email james@gapfinance.biz
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