An 82-year-old man has died after an argument over a sun lounger descended into a brawl at a popular beach in the Greek islands, leading to two arrests and possible murder charges. Police were called to the scene on Sunday morning, September 20, after the violent incident at Vouliagmeni, a beach in one of Athens' wealthiest locales.
Argument over sun loungers turns violent
The elderly man arrived at the beach at about 10am and soon began arguing with a fellow beachgoer, described by authorities as a “76-year-old man unknown to him,” when it became clear loungers were scarce. What started as a war of words quickly escalated into a fight between the two men, with other people reportedly joining in. Greek state broadcaster ERT reported that "it seems that people who were with [the assailant] also participated" in the incident.
The 82-year-old, who was understood to have been at the seaside with his wife, is thought to have suffered a cardiac arrest. He received CPR on the sand, and a defibrillator was used before an ambulance arrived.
Police investigate and make arrests
A police source said, as per reports: “The incident is under investigation.” They continued: “In Greece, disagreement is expressed vocally, with a lot of screaming and shouting, not in fistfights like this – especially between two elderly men. I think that’s why it is so shocking.”
The 82-year-old was rushed to the nearby Asklepieion Hospital in Voula in a critical condition but died at about 11am, seemingly as a result of his injuries. He sustained a number of heavy blows and collapsed on the sand, losing consciousness. A post-mortem has been ordered to ascertain the true cause of death.
Police arrested a 76-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman at the scene on Sunday. Both remain in custody at the Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni Police Station, as police are understood to be working towards filing murder charges against the pair, Tovima reports. The manager of the beach bar where the sunbeds were located was also brought in by police to give a statement. Authorities said “all those” involved in the incident would appear before a Magistrate.
Context of rising tensions
Greece is undergoing a severe cost of living crisis that has seen tensions increase amongst locals, resulting in a rise in domestic violence incidents and other instances of aggression. In recent years, anger has increased as tourism and rental outfits hog prime coastal areas to charge exorbitant prices for sun loungers.
