Paros: 69-year-old “lifeguard” at the center of investigation – What the law stipulates

Many serious questions are being raised surrounding the 69-year-old owner of a beach bar in Paros, following the tragic drowning of a 4-year-old child in the swimming pool of the establishment. The 69-year-old was also registered as a lifeguard, with authorities examining both whether he was qualified and legally licensed to perform those duties and whether he was at the scene at the critical time.

The owner of the establishment was released pending the completion of the preliminary investigation, following a decision by the Prosecutor of the Syros Court of First Instance.

It is recalled that the owner was arrested by the authorities and, like the child’s parents, faces charges of negligent homicide. He appeared before the Prosecutor of Syros on Sunday (August 9) to give his statement.

The parents of the 4-year-old, who were also arrested following the tragedy, were released on Saturday evening after the completion of the required procedures.

Authorities are focusing their investigation on the circumstances under which the child managed to get away from his parents, reach the swimming pool and end up in the water.

At the same time, the owner’s role as the beach bar’s lifeguard is being examined, particularly whether he was at the pool and performing his duties at the critical time.

According to Mega, the establishment received a permit for the construction of the swimming pool in 2018 and obtained a new permit in 2023, as required by law. The 69-year-old owner of the beach bar reportedly said, among other things, that he could not locate the 2023 planning permit. As a result, a dual inspection will be carried out by two separate teams, one from the Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT) and another from the planning authorities.

The swimming pool has a central bridge running through it, with the water being considerably deep at that point, while the sun loungers are positioned on elevated areas.

Regarding the 69-year-old, who was also listed as a lifeguard, a 2020 presidential decree, supplemented by a regulation issued by the Hellenic Coast Guard, stipulates that a person can work as a lifeguard only up to the age of 60.

It is also not known what training the 69-year-old had received, while a lifeguard’s license is required to be renewed every year.

The timeline of the tragedy in Paros

The incident occurred at around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, at the swimming pool of a beachfront establishment in the Pounda area of Paros.

The 4-year-old boy was found unconscious in the swimming pool by two women, who were customers of the establishment. An immediate response followed, with an employee of the business, who works as a bartender, pulling the child out of the water.

Resuscitation efforts began at the scene, while shortly afterward the child was transported by an ambulance of the National Emergency Aid Center (EKAB) to the local Health Center.

Rescuers continued their efforts during the transfer, while doctors at the Health Center attempted to revive the child. Despite their exhaustive efforts, the boy could not be saved and was pronounced dead.

The child’s parents were at the establishment, near the beach. However, according to the information available so far, they were not beside the swimming pool when the tragedy occurred.