Rhodes firefighter dies during rescue operation in Sideritis Gorge

A 52-year-old firefighter, Petros Diakakis, died on Tuesday, September 22, during a rescue operation in the Sideritis Gorge on the island of Rhodes. The incident occurred around 12:30 PM when Diakakis attempted to reach two foreign tourists who had become stranded in a difficult-to-access area while climbing.

During his attempt to approach the hikers, Diakakis reportedly slipped and fell from a significant height. Although a rescue operation was immediately launched to retrieve him, he was transported to the Rhodes General Hospital unconscious, where he was later pronounced dead. A drone patrolling the area was initially used to locate his position.

Following the tragedy, the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Evangelos Tournas, ordered a formal administrative inquiry (EDE) to investigate the exact circumstances and causes of the accident. The Rhodes Fire Service and local officials, including Mayor Alexandros Koliadis, expressed deep mourning for the loss of the experienced officer, who was a father of two and had served the department since 1999.