An American tourist was found dead on the small Greek island of Mathraki on Sunday, adding to a string of concerning incidents involving tourists in Greece this summer. Authorities are currently searching for three other tourists who have gone missing on separate islands.
Another tourist discovered the unidentified American man on a beach near Mathraki's old port. He had been reported missing on Thursday, last seen at a tavern with two female tourists who later departed the island. The man was vacationing in Mathraki and staying with a Greek-American friend, who raised the alarm after finding his friend's home open with lights and air conditioning on but no sign of the guest or his belongings.
Mathraki, with a population of only around 100 and dense vegetation, lacks its own police station or coast guard. Law enforcement personnel were called in from the nearby island of Corfu to investigate. A coroner will be arriving in Mathraki to initiate a preliminary investigation, and the body will be transported to Corfu for an autopsy.
This tragic discovery marks the third tourist death on Greek islands in recent weeks. Last week, British TV personality Dr Michael Mosley was found deceased on the island of Symi. Investigators determined he had died from complications during a solo hike in hot weather and challenging terrain. Additionally, a 74-year-old Dutch tourist was located facedown in a ravine on Samos after being reported missing while struggling to walk in the heat on a previous Sunday.
Search efforts continue for three other tourists who remain missing:
- Albert Calibet (59): A retired Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy from California, last seen on Amorgos after embarking on a hike. His girlfriend reported him missing on Tuesday afternoon after receiving a call from him before the hike and a picture from the trailhead earlier that day.
- Two French Tourists (73 & 64): Last seen leaving their hotels on the small island of Sikinos in the Aegean Sea on Friday.
This series of events highlights the importance of exercising caution while vacationing in Greece, especially during hot weather conditions.
