A 34-year-old British tourist has died after getting into difficulty while swimming near Marathonisi in Laganas, on the island of Zakynthos, also known as Zante. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon.
Bystanders reportedly raised the alarm after observing the man in distress. Port authority officers and other beachgoers assisted in bringing him to shore, where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid were administered. He was then transported by patrol boat to the port of Agios Sostis and subsequently taken to the General Hospital of Zakynthos.
The man was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Zakynthos Port Authority has launched a preliminary investigation into the incident and a post-mortem examination is expected.
A spokesman for the Zakynthos Port Authority confirmed the events, stating that the authority was informed of a foreigner in difficulty near Marathonisi. The spokesman added that with the help of beachgoers, he was brought to shore and provided with CPR before being transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The authority is conducting a preliminary investigation.