A 19-year-old teenager boy was killed on Monday after an accident at a fun park in Halkidiki, northern Greece.
One of his brothers was on the ride with him but sustained only minor injuries. One more sibling was an eye witness to the fatal accident.
According to media reports, the seat detached from the ride when the operator increased the speed.
The 58-year-old fun park’s owner has been arrested, while the ride’s operator reported fled the scene immediately and the ride came to halt by another member of the personnel.
Police issued an arrest warrant against the operator who turned himself in at noon on Tuesday, state broadcaster ERT reported.
The incident took place in the seaside village of Pefkochori on Monday, where the three brothers and their parents from Veroia, western Macedonia, were spending vacations.
The victim’s 16-year-old sibling told ERT on Tuesday that he hung onto the rail when he felt the back of the seat come unstuck and saw that his brother had been flung with force onto the ground.
The operator had allegedly told the boys that he would be cranking the ride up to full speed for their amusement.
Bureaucracy and Indifference kill
AN investigation has been launched and as usual in the country the responsible is here or there or everywhere. Who is responsible for licenses, quality and safety controls? How comes that business owners start an operation without following the proper procedures? Why authorities turn a blind eye to law violations? Because of a few hundred euros under the table?
The mayor of Kassandra, where Pefkochori is located, has indicated that the amusement park may have been operating without a proper license.
Media reported that this specific fun park has been in operation in the area for over 20 years, and that normally they do not need a license but an “announcement” to local authorities.
Mayor, Anastasia Halkia, told media that he did not know who was solely responsible for the park operation and license.
She reportedly added that the park owner had to make known to police the operation start this year, the municipality would be informed by the police, while the Development Ministry was responsible for the quality control of all facilities and devices in the fun park.
The Ministry denied responsibility saying municipalities are responsible but the mayor said municipalities do not have the necessary equipment for the quality and safety control.
According to ERT, the police had informed the municipality mid-July that the park had not made the announcement. The Municipality said the issue was research and it was about to impose fines. Yet, the fun park has been in operation throughout the summer.
An investigation has been launched.
PS In the country of “whatever”, everybody does whatever he wants with no licenses or controls, bureaucrats have no idea who is responsible for what and until they find out, the young boy is gone forever.
Welcome to Greece, an EU member since 1981.
There was a similar accident last year where a girl died in Anchialos/Almyro (Thessalia/Magnesia) last year… they don’t learn…
No, they don’t because authorities let them prevail.
In the Balkans, nobody is ever responsible for anything. Or held responsible. Or they point the finger at somebody else. When there is a problem, they will make it somebody else’s problem.
People like the status that a certain position brings. But they don’t like the responsibility and duty that come with it. Often, they got their position through nepotism and cronyism anyway.