Just a few months ago, 27-year-old Natalie Neophitou, saw her life take on a new dimension when she was recruited in the National Guard of Cyprus as a contract soldier.
Yesterday, her life was cut sharply and violently at the General Hospital of Nicosia after being seriously injured by an accident with a military jeep, Proto Thema reported.
Natalie was at the back of an open jeep and did not have a seat belt. The driver of the car was a 19-year-old conscript soldier and his co-driver was a probationary officer of the same age.
For reasons unknown until now, the car overturned and 27-year-old Natalie was thrown out of the vehicle and was crushed by it. The driver and the probation officer were not injured.
She was immediately transported by military ambulance to the hospital, where doctors were able to stabilise her so that she could be transported to the operating room.
However, she suffered a heart attack and despite the efforts of the doctors, recovery was not possible.
An autopsy is expected today to officially determine the cause of death. She had suffered multiple fractures, head injuries and was bleeding from her internal organs.
Natalie, after examinations, had been hired by the National Guard last December and was serving in a base near Nicosia. Her brother, who was informed by his colleagues, also serves as contractor.
Today, the Defence Minister Petridis, and the Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Zervakis, conducted an autopsy at the scene of the accident.
At the same time, investigations are being conducted by police and the army to find out how the vehicle was overturned in a routine exercise, where according to the measures taken, such a thing should be impossible to happen.
It is not yet known why Natalie was sitting in the back open part of the vehicle without wearing a seatbelt.
A Defence Ministry spokesperson said that "we still do not know what happened and how it happened, but we will investigate."
The Ministry of Defense decided to submit a proposal so that the funeral can be covered with public expenditure.
