A 60-year-old German tourist drowned at Alykes Sission (Alykés Sissón) in Rethymno. His death follows another recent drowning of a 46-year-old German tourist at Sfakaki.
The news came from KritiTV, but the scene might have been witnessed anywhere along Crete’s northern coast: a body pulled from the sea, first aid given in desperation on the sand, and a life that slips away despite every attempt.
On Sunday afternoon, at Alykes Sission in Mylopotamos, Rethymno, a 60-year-old German tourist was pulled from the water unconscious. Fellow swimmers tried to revive him. Paramedics from EKAB arrived quickly, transferring him to the Perama Health Center. Doctors there could only confirm what by then was clear: he was gone.
His wife stood helplessly nearby, forced to watch a fight for life that ended in silence.
Not the First Loss
This is not an isolated tragedy. Just days earlier, a 46-year-old German tourist drowned at Sfakaki, also in Rethymno. Lifeguards tried everything to save him, battling strong currents in a sea that looked deceptively calm. One of them later told KritiTV:
“Η θάλασσα έδειχνε ήρεμη, τα ρεύματα την έκαναν φονική.”
“The sea looked calm, but the currents made it deadly.”
It was the first time in his three years of service that lifeguard Manolis faced death in the water. He says it is an image he will carry for the rest of his life.
A Troubling Pattern
In recent weeks, German visitors have been involved in several fatal incidents on the island, from hiking falls in the mountains to drownings in the sea. There is no single explanation, only a reminder of how unforgiving Crete’s landscape and waters can be, even when they appear inviting.
A Lifeguard’s Warning
The sea is never to be underestimated. Crete’s lifeguards stress this point again and again: even when there are no waves, invisible currents can kill.
Remember:
- Pay attention to the flags on the beach.
- Respect lifeguards’ warnings and instructions.
- Never assume the water is safe simply because it looks calm.
Crete is an island of beauty, but also of hidden dangers. Behind every headline like this one is a family left grieving, and a reminder to treat the sea not as an enemy, but with the respect it quietly demands.
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