British tourist, 71, collapses and dies on Greek beach after feeling ‘unwell while swimming’
- The tragedy occurred yesterday afternoon in the seaside resort of Agia Galini
A 71-year-old British woman has tragically died after getting into trouble in the water off the south coast of the Greek island of Crete yesterday.
The woman, who had gone swimming in the early afternoon, started feeling unwell shortly after entering the water in the popular resort of Agia Galini.
She successfully reached shore after realizing her condition was worsening and returned, but she collapsed shortly after returning to land, according to a report by Cretapost.
Rescuers were sent to the scene and did everything they could to revive her, but were unable to save her life.
She was transported to Rethymnon hospital, where she was officially declared dead.
The woman, who had gone for a swim in the early afternoon, started feeling unwell shortly after entering the water in the popular resort of Agia Galini.
A preliminary investigation is being conducted by the local port authority of Agia Galini to determine the circumstances surrounding her death.
Her death follows that of another British tourist, aged 66, who lost her life after fainting while swimming at Achladies beach in Skiathos in July.
The woman had left her hotel to go swimming at the picturesque beach on the south side of the island, CNN Greece reported, when she fell unconscious into the water and was pulled out of the sea by a lifeguard.
Medical professionals performed CPR and immediately took the woman to the nearby Skiathos Health Center, but unfortunately they were unable to save her life.
It is believed the woman lost consciousness in the ‘intense heat in the area’, with temperatures on the island reaching 31 degrees Celsius and little respite.
An extreme heat warning was in force on Skiathos at the time, amid a European heatwave.
A woman has died after losing consciousness on Achladies beach (photo, file) in Skiathos
In May, a British tourist drowned while swimming in the sea during a day trip to the Greek island of Kalymnos.
The 76-year-old is said to have drowned before he could be pulled from the water and helped by emergency workers at the port of Vathi.
In June alone, six tourists were found dead in Greece, with officials warning of the dangers of an intense heatwave sweeping the Mediterranean.