Death certificates for Chios: They died from “severe injuries”

Eight days after the shipwreck in Chios, NEWS 24/7 publishes the details from the death certificates compiled by the forensic pathologists who visited Chios, concerning the victims of the shipwreck.

As previously reported by NEWS 24/7, the testimonies of the survivors and the captain of the Coast Guard vessel were revealed, as well as the discrepancies in the preliminary investigative statements compared to the testimonies collected by the Chios investigating judge.

Victims of Blows to the Head and Body

In the death certificates of the inflatable boat passengers, which NEWS 24/7 obtained, drowning is not listed as the cause of death.

The cause of death recorded is severe head injuries, which in some cases are accompanied by injuries to the chest, neck, arms, and legs.

For example, one day after the incident, on February 4, the first death certificates were drafted after autopsy and necropsy. In the first, for a woman who was killed, the cause of death is listed as “Severe cranioencephalic trauma, awaiting toxicological and histological examination results.” In another certificate, concerning a man, the cause of death is “Severe cranioencephalic trauma-cervical trauma, awaiting toxicological and histological examination results.”

In a third case, the cause of death for another man is listed as “Severe cranioencephalic trauma with associated chest injuries,” while in another woman’s case, the cause of death is “Extremely severe head injuries and accompanying chest injuries, left upper limb, and lower limbs”.

In another certificate concerning a girl, it reads “Severe cranioencephalic trauma and associated chest injuries—awaiting laboratory test results,” and for a man, “Severe head injuries and left lower limb injuries followed by drowning.”

On the second day, Thursday, February 5, after autopsy and necropsy conducted by the forensic pathologists, the listed cause of death includes “Severe cranioencephalic trauma”, “Cranioencephalic trauma with subsequent drowning, awaiting laboratory test results,” as well as in another case, “Extremely severe cranioencephalic trauma with associated chest injuries.”