Symi: Concern over the fate of missing person from sailing boat

Search operations by the Hellenic Coast Guard remain under way today, Tuesday (4/8), in the sea area off Symi, for the eighth passenger of the sailing boat, who is still missing. A Coast Guard vessel is taking part in the operation, conducting searches across the wider maritime area.

The incident occurred on the evening of last Sunday, 2 August, when the eight people on board — four men and four women — ended up in the sea off Symi under circumstances that are being investigated.

According to the information available so far, they had all gone swimming, resulting in the sailing boat being swept away by sea currents and drifting beyond their reach, leaving them unable to return to it.

Strong search-and-rescue forces were mobilised from the outset under the coordination of the Hellenic Coast Guard’s Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Centre. During the operation, seven of the eight passengers were gradually located and rescued safely. Two of them managed to swim to shore on their own and reach Panormitis Bay.