At an airport in Spata on Monday, a young British tourist was tragically killed when a helicopter’s blades tore his body to pieces.
The unnamed guy, 21, was getting off the plane at the private airport with three other visitors, including his sister, after their wealthy parents had paid for their travel from Mykonos to Athens.
He apparently approached the Bell 407 helicopter from behind while the engines were running, and was struck by the tail rotor.
The event, which occurred at around 6.20 p.m. local time, left the man with serious injuries, though the precise circumstances are still unclear.
Emergency personnel were sent to the private heliport outside of Athens, but it’s believed that the victim was killed nearly quickly by the fast rotor.
We are discussing a disaster—an unparalleled tragedy that should never have occurred, a police source told The Sun.
When rotor blades present such an apparent hazard, it is still unclear why this occurred or was let to occur. The cause is currently under investigation.
The pilot who had landed and observed the horrible episode was forced to radio ahead to his colleague and inform him of what had happened because a second chopper carrying the victim’s parents was following closely behind.
To prevent the man’s parents from seeing the site of the fatal tragedy, the pilot of the second helicopter made the decision to deviate from the private airstrip in Spata and instead made an impromptu landing at Athens International Airport.
Although the family involved was not identified by police sources, it is known that they are quite rich.
Locals informed The Sun that limousines were preparing to transport them to a private aircraft parked at Athens International Airport and were waiting at the Spata heliport.
On Monday night, Greek police were spotted at the location conducting their investigation.
It is thought that they are questioning the helicopter’s landing pilot about why the passengers were permitted to leave the vehicle while the rotors were still spinning.
The facts that caused the fatal accident are yet unknown.