A 34-year-old British man has died after being rescued from the sea off the Greek island of Zakynthos, also known as Zante, a popular holiday destination for British tourists.
Incident near Marathonisi island
The man got into difficulty while swimming near Marathonisi, a small island off Zakynthos, on Tuesday afternoon, August 18. Beachgoers spotted him struggling and raised the alarm. Port Authority officers, assisted by people on the beach, pulled him from the water.
CPR was carried out at the scene before he was taken to Zakynthos General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officials have launched an investigation into the incident, according to The Mirror.
Authorities confirm details
In a statement, authorities said: "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 underway
"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," the statement concluded.
Zante was named the most tourist-crowded resort in a 2025 Which? Travel report, which estimated overnight stays outnumber residents 150 to one.
