An officer of the Greek Coast Guard was killed on Wednesday when he fell into the sea in the beach of Astros, Peloponnese. He was most likely swept away and into the sea by a huge wave.
The man was patrolling with a female colleague the area around the port when both fell into the sea and he hit his head on the rocks.
Short time later, he was pulled out unconscious and taken to the local Health Center where he was pronounced dead.
His colleague was pulled alive form the sea, however, there are no reports about her state of health.
According to information from state broadcaster ERT, the 52-year-old man was helping to tie up boats so that they would not be swept away by the strong winds blowing with intensity of 8 to 9 Beaufort.
The two members of the coast guard were checking the mooring of the boats due to the bad weather and were trying to keep the public away from the port.
The officer was trying to tie up a boat when the incident occurred, local media reported.
The exact circumstances of the incident remain unknown and an internal investigation will be launched once his surviving colleague can give a testimony.
A video showed how the two cost guards were “buried” by a hug wave, while bystanders shouted at them “Be careful!”
Dramatic video by in.gr
🎥Βίντεο-ντοκουμέντο από τη στιγμή που ο άτυχος λιμενικός παρασύρεται από τα τεράστια κύματα στο Παράλιο Άστρος
🌊Συγκλονιστικές είναι οι εικόνες από το βίντεο-ντοκουμέντο που δημοσιεύει το in#ingr #news #λιμενικος pic.twitter.com/0FqEZuE4Tp
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According to Mega TV, most probably the two were swept away into the sea by a huge wave.
Huge waves crashed onto the pier and sweeping away 2 to 3 Coast Guard officers who had rushed to the scene to provide assistance, the TV channel reported.
In another incident in the area, a huge wave swept into the sea several people standing on the pier of the big port of Astros. One person was injured and was taken to the local health center to receive First Aid.
Minister of Shipping Vasilis Kikilias expressed his condolences for the death of the coast guard in the line of duty.
“My sincere condolences to the family and colleagues of our coast guard who lost his life in the line of duty at Paralio Astros. A difficult and dangerous duty, which the officers of the Coast Guard-Hellenic Coast Guard serve daily, for the homeland and the protection of all of us, risking their lives,” the Minister wrote.
Heavy rainstorms have been sweeping across central and south Greece on Wednesday causing damages and flooding phenomena also in capital Athens.
