In an emotional and exclusive journey, a grieving father has returned to the Greek island of Rhodes, revisiting the exact spot where he waved off his teenage daughter moments before her tragic death in a parasailing accident. Tony Hayes, 43, traveled 1,800 miles from his home in Corby, Northamptonshire, to lay two white roses in the sand at Lindos beach, a poignant tribute to his daughter Jessica, 15, and her cousin Mikey Connelly, 13, who both perished in 2020.
A Heartbreaking Return to the Scene
Tony Hayes made this solemn trip just hours before Nikos Mallios, the 57-year-old watersports operator who managed the fatal excursion, was due to appear at Rhodes Courthouse to face criminal prosecution. Mallios is accused of breaching multiple health and safety regulations after the rope tethering Jessica and Mikey to his speedboat snapped, sending them plummeting 400 feet onto rocks below. Michael's older brother James, then 15, was also part of the "three-man ride" but miraculously survived the fall.
Five Years of Unresolved Grief
In an exclusive interview, Tony shared the profound impact of losing his child. "I never want anyone to have to experience anything as traumatic as this. Losing a child is the worst thing that can happen," he said. "It's difficult to be here. It's very, very hard. What's hard for people to understand is that it's been five and a half years. But for us, it feels like it's still exactly the same day."
Tony explained that the ongoing court case has prevented closure, leaving him consumed by the tragedy. "I look at a picture of Jess, or see a video of her, and I can't process what happened. I've had to have PTSD counselling. But it's difficult because I can't remember the good times because I'm consumed with the ongoing case."
The Final Holiday Memories
The Hayes and Connelly families were on holiday in Rhodes in October 2020, celebrating Tony's father-in-law Phil's surprise 65th birthday. Jessica had told her parents it was "the best holiday she'd ever had," enjoying games, watching bands, and even dancing with her grandad the night before the accident. On October 24, the children booked the parasailing trip after seeing it advertised on the hotel website.
Tony recalled the last moments with his daughter: "When they were getting on the boat, they were joking about being scared. We told them we loved them and gave them a cuddle. Instead of staying in front of the hotel, the boat started heading around the bend in the coast. Straight away we knew something wasn't right."
A Storm and a Snap That Changed Everything
A sudden storm erupted, and when the rope snapped, the parachute veered uncontrollably toward the rocky coastline. Jessica and Mikey suffered devastating injuries and died, while James spent over two weeks in a coma before being evacuated to the UK. The families were initially misled about the severity of the injuries, with Kayleigh, Tony's wife, only learning the truth when she forced her way into the hospital.
Legal Battles and Allegations
Nikos Mallios was arrested and bailed as prosecutors considered manslaughter charges. Legal teams representing the families, led by solicitor George Moschos, argue that triple-seat parasailing is forbidden, as is taking children under 14 on such rides. They also allege that Mallios breached guidelines by operating in bad weather, going outside designated watersports areas, nearing rocks, and using a rope in poor condition.
Despite the criminal probe, Mallios was not arrested and continued operating from the same spot, as revealed by exclusive pictures in 2022 showing him taking thrillseekers on €75 parasailing jaunts. Tony expressed frustration: "He's been able to continue operating despite what happened. How many British tourists has he unknowingly taken up in his parasail? If he were a truck driver and he'd killed someone, they would have taken his licence off him."
A Father's Guilt and a Plea for Justice
Tony is wracked with guilt for allowing Jessica to go on the excursion. "I should have been far more cautious. I could have just said no. I have a lot of guilt about that," he admitted. "I don't want to tell people going on holiday: 'Be super cautious, don't enjoy yourself.' But watersports companies should be operating to the highest standards and not cutting corners because it puts people's lives at risk."
As the court case proceeds, with three British eyewitnesses traveling to Rhodes to testify, Tony hopes for a conviction and a prison sentence. "I want him to go to prison, I want it to be long. I think it would help me come to terms with what happened," he said. "This feels like the last thing I have been able to do for Jessica. I've felt like I'm still able to do something as her dad, for her. When this is over, I won't have any more daddy duties."
The return to Lindos marks the final chapter in a five-year journey for justice, with Mallios also scheduled to face further allegations later this year. For Tony Hayes, laying those white roses was a bittersweet act of remembrance and a step toward healing, as he continues to seek resolution for the loss that has shadowed his life since that fateful day in 2020.
