In a tragic incident that unfolded at Port Piraeus/Athens (Greece), a passenger tragically lost his life while attempting to board the departing Blue Horizon ferry on Tuesday evening. The ferry was in the process of departing from Piraeus to Heraklion Crete.
Videos circulated on social media depict the distressing scene as crew members from the ferry seemingly pushed 36-year-old Antonis Kariotis off the ferry's vehicle ramp and into the sea. The tragic event occurred as the man fell between the ramp and the pier.
Subsequently, Mr. Kariotis, a resident of Agios Nikolaos, Crete, was discovered a short time later. The circumstances leading up to the incident remain unclear, including whether Mr. Kariotis lacked a ticket for the ferry or if he was attempting to board after the ship's departure, despite the possibility of tickets being issued after departure.
In a separate video, Mr. Kariotis is seen being drawn underwater by the powerful propellers of the ferry, raising concerns about the potential head injury he may have sustained during his fall.
Following this distressing event, authorities took swift action, arresting the captain and three crew members of the Blue Horizon ferry. All four individuals are expected to face legal proceedings at the Piraeus prosecutor's office.
The Attica Group/Attica Holdings SA is the parent company of several cruiseferry fleets (including Superfast Ferries, Blue Star Ferries, and Hellenic Seaways) issued a statement expressing shock and cooperation with the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident.
The Blue Horizon ferry (passenger capacity 1488/530 berths, cargo capacity 780 vehicles) had initially departed from Piraeus but was subsequently called back by authorities.
Shipping Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis has announced a comprehensive inquiry into the incident while expressing his condolences for the tragic loss of life.
For more Blue Horizon accidents and incidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.