A last dive…

Statistically, omissions, human tragedies, and a detailed record of everything we need to be careful about.

He was just 30 years old. He didn't make it out of the sea. The huge waves, a wrong estimation, the underwater currents of the area swallowed the body of Stefanos, who was found on Kathisma beach in Lefkada with his friends to celebrate his bachelor party, as he was to get married in a few days. 

The tragic incident of 30-year-old Stefanos Kemos in Lefkada highlights in the most painful way the dangers that lurk on Greek beaches, especially when natural phenomena are combined with the absence of adequate lifeguard coverage.

Stefanos, originally from Trikala, had visited Lefkada to celebrate his bachelor party, ahead of his wedding which was scheduled for June 14. On Sunday afternoon, May 25, he decided to swim at Kathisma beach, an area he knew well and had visited many times before. However, that day, the weather conditions were particularly adverse, with strong winds and dangerous waves.

As the lifeguard who rushed to the scene told Mega, bathers informed him about a man who had been swept away by the waves. When he arrived, he found Stefanos unconscious in the water. Despite attempts at CPR, it was not possible to revive the 30-year-old, who was handed over shortly after to EKAV rescuers without a pulse.

The lifeguard reported that the phenomenon of the "washing machine wave" is often observed on this beach, where the wave throws the bather out and in fractions of a second pulls them back in. On the day of the accident, the sea was particularly rough, with many Beauforts, making swimming extremely dangerous.

Kathisma is not a "conventional" beach. The depth increases sharply, just a few meters from the shore. The morphology of the seabed and exposure to westerly winds create underwater currents that change unpredictably within minutes. For someone inexperienced - especially for tourists - the risk of being swept away without being able to return is fatal.

Unfortunately, Kathisma has a history of similar incidents. On June 17, 2023, a 50-year-old man lost his life when he was swept away by waves while trying to take a photo with his wife at the edge of the beach. The enormous waves swept them away, resulting in the man drowning.

Drownings on Greek beaches are a systematic cause of death every summer. And yet, they are still treated as "accidents".

The silent epidemic of drownings

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 236,000 people die from drowning every year, with most victims being children aged 5-14 and the elderly. July 25 has been established as World Drowning Prevention Day, in an effort to give at least minimal attention to a problem that kills silently.

Greece has the 9th largest coastline in the world, with 13,676 km of sea, thousands of beaches, hundreds of islands, and more than 30 million tourists annually. And yet, drowning remains one of the main out-of-hospital causes of death in our country, according to data from ELSTAT and the Hellenic Coast Guard.

According to the most recent available data, 407 drowning deaths were recorded in Greece in 2023, of which 400 occurred at sea and the remaining 7 in inland waters, such as lakes and rivers. Of these, 71% (288 people) were men and 29% (116 people) were women. The majority of victims were over 60 years old, while approximately 10 children and adolescents die from drowning every year in Greece. 

It is noteworthy that 62% of drowning deaths occur on beaches without lifeguard coverage, which underlines the importance of the presence of lifeguards for the prevention of such tragedies.

The Ionian islands with hidden dangers 

In the Ionian islands - from Corfu to Zakynthos, Kefalonia, and Lefkada - dozens of drowning incidents are recorded every summer. Tourist flows are enormous, the beaches are impressive but in many cases not at all safe.

In Kefalonia, Myrtos and Platy Gialos beaches are wonderful but unpredictable. In Corfu, the Canal d'Amour and Issos beach hide strong currents and steep depths. In Zakynthos, Navagio has repeatedly caused deaths due to falls and drownings.

And of course, in Lefkada - Kathisma.

Drowning with delayed onset: the "invisible" enemy

Another, less known but real threat is dry drowning, or secondary drowning. This is an extremely rare phenomenon (1-2% of drowning incidents), during which the victim experiences complications even 24 hours after diving.

Water entering the airways causes laryngospasm or neurogenic pulmonary edema, with symptoms such as:

• wheezing and difficulty breathing
• foam in the mouth
• drowsiness or lethargy
• bluing or persistent cough

The delay in symptoms makes diagnosis difficult. If there is no immediate medical intervention, sudden death can occur.

Who is most at risk?

The most vulnerable groups are:

• Elderly, due to cardiac/respiratory problems
• Children, due to less supervision and physical weakness
• Men, who are statistically more often recorded as victims
• Tourists, who do not know the local terrain and often swim without supervision

Preventive rules that save lives

For everyone:

• Never alone in the sea
• Not after alcohol or a heavy meal
• Always updated on weather and currents
• Do not overestimate abilities

For children:

• Always supervised from a close distance
• Use of life jacket
• Basic training in swimming and self-rescue

For the elderly:

• No swimming without an escort
• Medical advice if there is a history
• Short duration, gentle hours

What can and what must change

• Universal presence of lifeguards on all busy beaches
• Information campaigns for tourists, schools and media
• Sea safety lessons in schools
• Special signage for beaches with currents or steep depths
• Use of technology (e.g. apps for weather conditions, QR codes for safety information)

Why every drowning is preventable

There is nothing "accidental" about a drowning. Every drowning is not just a numerical record, it is a face, a story, a family plunged into grief. Many times, the responsibility is not individual. When Municipalities do not provide for lifeguards, when there are no informative signs, when the state leaves local communities without support, then death at sea becomes a collective issue. These are not accidents - these are pre-announced events that are repeated every summer. As long as they remain "invisible", they will continue to kill.