A Greek amateur football player was killed on Sunday in the village of Myriokefalo on the Greek island of Crete, where the local Easter celebrations took an unexpected turn.
During the family celebrations following the Holy Saturday night mass, a 40-year-old man, who was reported to have drunk too much tsipouro (pomace brandy), drew his gun and fired several shots in the air, as part of the local tradition of firing shots in the air at any and all festivities. At some point, the gun jammed and while attempting to repair it, the gun accidentally discharged killing the 25-year-old Giorgos Gyparakis and causing facial injuries to a 23-year-old.
Both men were transported to the local hospital in the Cretan town of Rethymno, were Gyparakis was pronounced dead. The 23-year-old remains hospitalized in a stable condition. His injuries are not life-threatening.
Following the incident, local police authorities arrested the 40-year-old perpetrator, who will face charges in front of a Greek prosecutor in the coming days. During the police search at the location of the event, one handgun, fifty shotgun shells and fifteen rounds of different types and caliber were seized.
Santorini: US tourist in critical condition after being hit by homemade firework
Meanwhile, an American woman is still in critical condition in intensive care in Heraklion, Crete after a homemade firework exploded in the gathered crowd on Saturday night.
Three other injured people are also being treated for serious injuries, with two having sustained burns to their legs, while one Greek man is in danger of losing an eye.
“We were watching the fireworks and suddenly a flare was thrown at me, which then knocked me over. I couldn’t get up and tried to crawl but then I was hit again. There was chaos, everyone running in all directions,” said one the injured Americans, who along with other three people suffered minor wounds that did not require hospital treatment.
Major news agencies around the world are reporting on the tragic incident on the island of Santorini, commenting that every year in Greece, Holy Saturday night celebrations claim many injuries and in some cases also lives.
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