A German tourist has been found dead on the Greek island of Crete after going missing for two days. The tragic incident occurred while the man was hiking with his daughters, adding to a series of unfortunate events involving tourists on Greek islands this summer.
Search efforts and discovery
The fire department reported that the body of the 60-year-old German tourist was found around 8 PM on Saturday evening. The location was described as a difficult-to-access area near the Agios Antonios Monastery in Chania, western Crete. Emergency services transported the man to a hospital, but according to media reports, doctors were unable to save him.
The search operation for the missing tourist was extensive:
- Fire department and coast guard teams searched the coast and mountains around Chania throughout Saturday.
- A dog unit was deployed to assist in the search.
- Rescuers attempted to locate the man using a drone.
- Authorities tried to reach the man via his mobile phone, but he did not answer the calls.
The man had embarked on a hiking trip with his two daughters on Friday. At some point during the hike, the group separated. When the man didn’t return to the starting point, family members alerted the police. An autopsy is now planned to determine the cause of death.
A concerning trend for tourists in Greece
This incident adds to a worrying trend of tourist deaths in Greece this summer. At least eight foreign tourists, most of them over 60 years old, have lost their lives on the Greek islands, which have been experiencing a heatwave. However, the weather has recently become milder, with temperatures ranging between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius.
Other recent incidents involving tourists in Greece include:
- Mid-September: A female tourist was killed by a falling rock while hiking in the Samaria Gorge on Crete. The rockfall was triggered by a sudden storm with heavy rainfall.
- End of August: A 65-year-old German woman was found dead in the sea between the beach resorts of Prassonissi and Triopetra on Crete.
These incidents highlight the importance of taking necessary precautions and being aware of potential risks while traveling, even in popular tourist destinations.
