A memorial to a heroic Russian seaman who died saving the world from a nuclear catastrophe after an explosion on his submarine should be erected in Bermuda, according to many readers of The Royal Gazette.

Sergei Preminin lost his life after manually turning off the reactors on Soviet ballistic missile vessel K-219, which was on patrol about 600 miles from the Island, in October 1986.

On the 20th anniversary of the sinking of K-219 last week, The Royal Gazette asked readers whether Bermuda should commemorate Seaman Preminin?s actions.

Many replied to say they felt the 21-year-old should be honoured on the Island.

Chris Buchanan wrote: ?Why should there not be a memorial for this lad?

?A young man makes a knowing decision to lose his life so that his shipmates can live. Given the tributes we pay to football and cricket players, we should be ashamed not to.

?With all the talk of Bermuda?s youth needing positive role models, what could be more fitting or timely. Colour, nationality or religion are all meaningless in this context; courage and selfless giving is everything.?

Robert Bokelman e-mailed to say: ?The Russian seaman knowingly took a fatal dose of radiation to save his crewmates and prevent a global catastrophe; not merely Bermuda and the US coast.

?You can do the math; not too many people deserve commendation of that magnitude.?

Michael H. McGuire said simply: ?The kid should get a memorial.?

An online poll on the subject on The Royal Gazette?s website has so far attracted more than 650 votes.

Just over 40 percent said there should be a memorial in Bermuda, 43.3 percent said there shouldn?t and 16.5 percent were undecided.

His bravery ? which prevented a nuclear meltdown ? inspired a poem by the writer Russell Hoban and the sinking of the ship has spawned movies, books and numerous articles.

Seaman Preminin received a posthumous award in his home country for his bravery and was named a Hero of the Russian Federation in 1997.

His hometown has a monument immortalising his courage which reads: ?To Russian Seaman Sergei Preminin, who prevented the world from a nuclear catastrophe.?

But in Bermuda, the nearest land to the site of the sinking, there is nothing to mark what happened.

What do you think? The Royal Gazette wants to know your views. E-mail newsroyalgazette.bm or write to the Editor at the usual address.