Zakynthos: Portuguese tourist survives near-fatal drowning

A 23-year-old Portuguese tourist is recovering in the intensive care unit of Zakynthos Hospital after a near-fatal drowning incident near the Blue Caves and Korithi. The young man, a Princeton University graduate, was pulled from a depth of approximately 12 meters by a local diver, Anastasios Lykouresis, during a sea excursion with his family.

A series of rapid interventions contributed to his survival. A private doctor on board the vessel performed CPR until the man reached the port of Agios Nikolaos Volimon. Upon arrival, EKAB paramedics, including Konstantinos Marotis and Spyros Kartis, continued life-saving measures, including defibrillation, after discovering a treatable arrhythmia.

Medical professionals at Zakynthos Hospital, including intensive care specialist Gerasimos Agaliotis, have been credited with performing a “medical miracle” to stabilize the patient. He has since been extubated and is reportedly communicating well.