Two foreign nationals collapsed and died on the island of Crete on Wednesday. The elderly tourists had gone hiking in local gorges amid a heatwave sweeping across the country.
A 67-year-old German man was found unconscious at the exit of Mylon gorge by Rethymno short before noon.
The man had reportedly a heart issue. Rescuers and fire fighters were deployed to his rescue but any help came too late, local media reported.
Χωρίς τις αισθήσεις του μεταφέρθηκε και παραδόθηκε στο ΕΚΑΒ, ένας άνδρας από δύσβατο σημείο στο φαράγγι Μύλων Ρεθύμνου Κρήτης. Επιχείρησαν 10 #πυροσβέστες με 2 οχήματα.
— Πυροσβεστικό Σώμα (@pyrosvestiki) June 5, 2024
A couple of hours later, a 70-year-old woman from France also collapsed and died. the woman was participating in a hiking trip in the Hohliakes gorge in Sitia.
The woman was walking between the beaches of Karoumes and Schinias, when she felt very unwell and collapsed. Other hikers in the group informed the authorities.
It is estimated that the elderly tourist collapsed due to pathological causes.
Χωρίς τις αισθήσεις της μεταφέρθηκε γυναίκα σε σημείο από όπου παρελήφθη από ασθενοφόρο του ΕΚΑΒ, από παράλια περιοχή στη Δ. Ε. Ιτάνου Λασιθίου Κρήτης. Επιχείρησαν 5 #πυροσβέστες. Συνδρομή από ιδιωτικό σκάφος.
— Πυροσβεστικό Σώμα (@pyrosvestiki) June 5, 2024
It should be noted that very high temperatures prevailed on the island of Crete, reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius and beyoond in some areas.
In the Vikos gorge in western mainland, another hiker, a Dutch tourist, was injured. The woman who suffered a broken leg was reportedly transferred to safety by firefighters and rescuers.
