An 82-year-old man has died after an argument over a sunbed on the Athenian Riviera.
He had headed to the seaside town of Vouliagmeni – south of the Greek capital of Athens – before 10am on Sunday, hoping to bag himself a lounger for the day.
However, he ended up in an argument with a ’76-year-old man unknown to him’ as the beds were in short supply.
What started as a verbal dispute escalated into a physical fight, with others reportedly joining in.
It’s believed the 82-year-old, who was at the beach with his wife, suffered a cardiac arrest during the scuffle.
CPR was administered at the scene and a defibrillator was reportedly used before an ambulance arrived and took him to hospital, where he died.
Witnesses told local media that the screaming could be heard from the other side of the beach.
‘It seems that people who were with [the assailant] also participated,’ the state broadcaster ERT reported.
‘The 82-year-old was seriously injured and needed to be transferred by ambulance to Asklepieion hospital in Voula.
‘Despite the efforts of doctors, at about 11am the elderly man succumbed to his wounds.’
Police arrested the 76-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman who was with him, as well as taking the beach resort manager for questioning.
The woman was later released, with witnesses telling Ta Nea newspaper she had a bloodied and swollen face.
A source told The Guardian that the ‘unprecedented’ fight has sparked an investigation.
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‘In Greece disagreement is expressed vocally, with a lot of screaming and shouting, not in fistfights like this – especially between two elderly men. I think that’s why it is so shocking.’
A post-mortem has been ordered, and authorities have confirmed everyone involved in the incident will be brought before a magistrate.
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