The news of the death of 16-year- old Vassilis Topalos, European boxing champion, has spread unspeakable sadness all across Greece. In the last few weeks he was hospitalised iin the intensive care unit of the Tzanios hospital.
It is recalled, as Proto Thema reported, that he was seriously injured during sparring matches on the morning of Friday, December 16, at a gym in Tavros.
The Deputy Minister of Sports, Lefteris Avgenakis, had immediately asked the competent authorities to shed a lot of light on the facts.
For their part, the Hellenic Boxing Federation (EOP) had informed with its announcement that "we will immediately file a complaint against everyone responsible, for investigation and attribution of any criminal liability."
The EOP issued a statement of condolence on the death of Vassilis Topalos, in which it states: "Gone is our Golden Child, our smiling Vassilis, the born Champion with a heart of pure gold. Unspeakable sadness for the Hellenic Boxing family...
"Words cannot express what we feel, we are all devastated. Vasilis, you left us too soon. We will always remember you with love and nostalgia. Condolences to his family and loved ones. Let the soil that will cover you be light. You will forever be in our hearts."
The timeline of the injury
The young European champion was considered one of the greatest talents in the field of boxing with important distinctions.
While he was training, he felt sick and stopped. He went to the bathroom to splash some water on his face and then suffered a fainting episode. However, from the fall, he hit his head on a hard surface, causing him to lose consciousness.
According to the owner of the gym, Nikos Yidakos, who had spoken about the incident on Proto Thema, the blow was also established by the forensic examination.
The unpleasant event was first noticed by another boxer, Alik Lagazashvili, who when he heard the noise of the fall, ran to the bathroom to see what was happening.
Immediately, he notified the father of the minor and the owner of the gym, who immediately called an ambulance, with the young man being transferred to the Tzanio hospital.
There, doctors determined the criticality of the situation and then the young man underwent head surgery to remove the hematoma.
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