The family of a 17-year-old Irish student, Alex McKee, who died after being electrocuted in a shower while on holiday in Greece, is considering legal action. Alex collapsed last Sunday on the Aegean island of Kimolos. Police have stated that a "wiring fault" with the shower caused his instant death.
Adding to the family's distress, it has emerged that the property's electrical installation certificate from 2024 was signed by the current mayor of Kimolos, Konstantinos Vendouris, who was working as an electrician at the time. Stelios Voudouris, the family's lawyer, indicated that the mayor faces significant criminal responsibility and that Alex's parents intend to press charges.
Alex, from Cork city, was a fifth-year student at Terence MacSwiney Community College and was due to start his final year of secondary school next month. He was recognized for his academic achievements, having won a national award earlier this year for a science project. He developed a communication system called 'Bumblebee' for individuals with non-verbal autism as part of a Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition project.
The McKee family, who visit Kimolos regularly as Alex's mother is from the island, were described by police as "much-loved" on the island. An expert has been asked to inspect the electrical wiring of the stone house, which the family had rented frequently and which was built over 50 years ago.
Irish officials, including Colm Burke, a member of the Irish parliament, expressed deep sorrow over the "tragic accident" and Alex's untimely death. Tony Fitzgerald, a former Lord Mayor of Cork, echoed these sentiments, highlighting Alex's "vibrant and talented" nature. Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the family.