Eyewitness recounts Cape Greco boat rescue attempt before fatal crash

Nicosia, Cyprus. An eyewitness has described the events before businessman and former rally driver Dimi Mavropoulos died when his boat crashed into rocks at Cape Greco during severe weather.

The witness said people at Agioi Anargyroi attempted to assist a man aboard the larger boat before police officers arrived and took over the rescue.

Witness account

The eyewitness, identified as Panikos A., requested that his full name not be published, although his details are known to philenews. He said he had gone to the Agioi Anargyroi area to photograph the rough seas caused by the storm that hit Cyprus.

He said tourists and other Greek Cypriots were also at the scene and immediately recognised the danger facing those on board the boats.

“When I arrived at the church of Agioi Anargyroi, there was a tourist couple and another child. I was taking photographs and I saw a person asking for help inside the larger boat. He shouted SOS the first time and then waved his hands,” Panikos A. said.

Rescue efforts

He said three more people arrived and all tried to help.

“We grabbed the rope that was there on a small boat in case someone needed help. We went down, while I had already informed police at 2.35 pm. They told me a helicopter was coming,” he said.

According to the eyewitness, the first boat was initially intact and had not hit the rocks, but was later destroyed by a huge wave.

“We tied the rope to a large rock and threw it for the man to catch because he could not swim,” he said.

Police arrival

A police patrol with two officers later arrived at the scene and told those present: “We are taking over.”

“I told the officer, my friend, the boat has a crack and with the next wave it will break apart. And immediately afterwards, the boat started slowly breaking apart. The police officer shouted, ‘Guys, we have to save him’. We shouted to him and he jumped into the sea, and we pulled him out with the rope,” the eyewitness said.