Lifeguard rescues drowning 10‑year‑old boy in Kissamos, Greece

A 10‑year‑old boy and his foreign mother were walking through the narrow channel of the Balo lake in Kissamos when the child suddenly plunged under the water and began to swallow it. The incident was witnessed by local boat governor Nikos Schoinophlokakis, who said, “The water there is deep and the child suddenly stopped walking. Instead of swimming, he tried to keep his backpack out of the water and drowned.”

The 23‑year‑old lifeguard Manolis Mylonakis immediately dived in, pulled the boy to safety, and handed back control of his boat, exclaiming, “I drove!” Mylonakis, who had rescued two young women a few days earlier in the same area, was praised by the boy’s mother for his rapid response.

Local authorities highlighted the danger of the channel, where even adults must keep their heads above water, and urged swimmers to exercise caution.