The death of the 39-year-old immigrant appears to have been caused by a fireball during the incident off Symi where a speedboat carrying immigrants from the Turkish coast rammed a Coast Guard vessel.
Specifically, according to the press release issued by the Coast Guard, in the morning hours today, a patrol boat of the Coast Guard, which was carrying out a scheduled patrol, spotted a suspicious speedboat in the sea area northwest of Symi. The boat did not obey the instructions of the port officials and developed speed in order to escape.
A chase followed with the use of sound and visual signals, to which the speedboat did not comply, repeatedly executing extremely dangerous maneuvers and ramming the Coast Guard vessel on the left side, specifically close to the skipper’s position.
As the Coast Guard reports, “in order to prevent the immediate danger to the PLS and its crew, warning shots were first fired without effect and then targeted shots were fired at the outboard engine aimed at immobilizing the speedboat. After the boat was stopped, a check was carried out on the speedboat, by the PAS crew, where it was found that a 39-year-old man had been mortally wounded, possibly by a fireball.”
The Coast Guard Press Release in detail:
“In the morning hours today, a patrol boat of the L.S.-EL.AKT. which was carrying out a scheduled patrol, spotted a suspicious high-speed (T/X) vessel in the sea area northwest of Symi.
The T/X polyester boat, as soon as it perceived the presence of the patrol boat L.S. (PLS), developed speed in order to escape. A chase followed by the PLS, with the use of sound and visual signals, to which the T/X did not comply, repeatedly executing extremely dangerous maneuvers and ramming the PLS on the left side, specifically close to the captain’s position, putting the physical integrity at immediate risk of the PLS crew members.
In order to prevent immediate danger to the PLS and its crew, warning shots were first fired without effect and then targeted shots were fired at the outboard engine intended to immobilize the speedboat. Following the immobilization of the vessel, an inspection was carried out on the speedboat by the PLS crew, where it was established that a 39-year-old man had been fatally injured, possibly by a fireball.
The 39-year-old was transported by another patrol boat of the LS-EL.AKT. in the port of Rhodes and was transferred to the General Hospital of Rhodes, in order for a necropsy to be carried out by the Forensic Service of Rhodes.
A total of fourteen (14) foreigners (5 minors, 8 men, 1 woman) were on board the T/X, while the Symi Port Authority, which is conducting the preliminary investigation, arrested two (02) foreigners who were identified as traffickers, for violation of nos. 82 and 83 of Law 3386/2005, no. 25 par. 1 sec. b of Law 5038/2023 and 306 of the P.K. and the T/X vessel was seized”.
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