Dramatic scenes unfolded in Halkidiki on Monday night when a 19-year-old lost his life after a ride at an amusement park in Pefkohori broke down.
Emergency services arrived at the scene and rushed the young man in critical condition to the Kassandreia Health Center, but unfortunately, he could not be saved. The 58-year-old operator of the amusement park has been arrested, but the ride's operator has not been apprehended.
According to initial reports, the 19-year-old and his brother were on a ride that broke, causing him to fall and sustain severe injuries. A third brother, who was also present, witnessed the tragic incident.
The emergency services transported the critically injured young man to the Kassandreia Health Center, but despite their efforts, he did not survive. The 58-year-old amusement park manager was arrested, while the ride operator fled the scene and has not been caught. The park manager is expected to appear before the Halkidiki Prosecutor.
Authorities are investigating the legality of the amusement park's operation and the ride in question. The area has been cordoned off until an official investigation can be conducted.
Statement from the 16-Year-Old Brother of the Victim
The victim's 16-year-old brother gave a harrowing account of the events to Protothema.gr, describing the nightmare they lived through at the amusement park. Both their mother and brother saw the victim being thrown into the air and killed right before their eyes.
"We got on the ride together. Just before we started, the operator switched our seats and told us, 'I’m going to go all out, I’m going to go fast.' At first, it was steady, but then it started going very fast. I was sitting in the same seat as my brother, and suddenly, I saw the seat coming loose.
I looked at my brother and said, 'Giannis, the seat is coming loose.' He looked me in the eyes but didn't have time to say anything, and then I saw my brother disappear. He was thrown into the air by the high speed of the ride and was killed. My mother and other brother were below, screaming.
They saw my brother die. The operator managed to escape while the ride was still moving, and I was holding on to a metal bar for dear life. Others stopped the machine—can you believe that? I would have died too if I hadn’t found the strength to hold on tightly. I feel like I'm living in a nightmare; I can’t recover…” the victim's brother tearfully told Protothema.gr.
Statement from the President of Pefkohori Community
Speaking to Protothema.gr, the president of the Pefkohori community, Giorgos Tsirkoudis, expressed his shock over the incident. "We are devastated by this event. The amusement park has been in place for over twenty years. We’ve never had a serious incident like this before. I know the owner; he’s a family man. I don’t know what happened that led to this tragedy..."
A preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Kassandreia Police Department. An expert examination will be carried out to determine the exact cause of the accident, and the area remains sealed off by the police.
The Grandmother of the 19-Year-Old Speaks Out
The grandmother of the 19-year-old victim also spoke to Protothema.gr, expressing her devastation:
"It’s so unfair what has happened to our family. Our child was taken from us so unfairly. My son, the boy’s father, drove all night from Athens to Halkidiki, crying at the wheel, unable to believe that his child had died.
His brother, who was sitting with him in the same seat, tried to hold on to him by his shirt, but the shirt tore, and he fell.
What kind of trauma will this child have? How much psychological support will he need to overcome this shock? In a few days, our Giannis was supposed to start aviation school; they had even prepared his uniform, but fate has crushed us all," the grandmother told Protothema.gr
