A 34-year-old British holidaymaker has died after being pulled from the sea off the Greek island of Zakynthos, commonly known as Zante.
Incident near Marathonisi
The man reportedly got into difficulty while swimming near Marathonisi, a small islet popular with day-trippers, on Tuesday afternoon (August 18). Beachgoers raised the alarm after noticing he was struggling in the water.
Officers from the Zakynthos Port Authority, assisted by people on the beach, brought him ashore and attempted to revive him. CPR was administered before he was taken to Zakynthos General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Port Authority statement
Authorities confirmed in a statement: "Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday), the Zakynthos Port Authority was informed of a 34-year-old foreigner (British citizen) in a difficult position near the Marathonisi area of Laganas, Zakynthos."
They added: "With the assistance of beachgoers, he was transported to the shore, where he was provided with first aid using the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) method. The 34-year-old was picked up by a patrol boat and transported to the port of Agios Sostis, Zakynthos."
Investigation launched
The statement continued: "Subsequently, the man was taken to the Zakynthos General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Zakynthos Port Authority."
Zante is a popular holiday destination for Britons. A 2025 Which? Travel report estimated overnight stays there outnumber residents 150 to one, crowning it the most tourist-crowded resort.
