French tourist dies on Crete after hiking banned trail in hot weather
A French woman collapsed from dehydration after walking a banned trail to Balos; rescuers performed CPR but she died on the way to hospital.
A 41-year-old French tourist died on the Greek island of Crete after collapsing from dehydration while walking on a prohibited trail to Balos beach, local authorities said.
Rescue teams reached the woman but she died en route to hospital
The woman and her partner had left their car in a parking area near Falassarna in the afternoon and continued on foot toward Balos along a difficult, largely inaccessible path. Signs at the location warn that access via the trail is prohibited, but the couple proceeded nonetheless.
On their return, about one kilometre from the parking area, the woman suddenly collapsed; her partner went back to the car to fetch water and immediately called for help on the emergency number 112.
Firefighters from Kisamos, a specialised forest-intervention team, and a crew from the National Centre for Emergency Medical Assistance joined the search. Rescuers found the woman unconscious and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation on site.
Medical personnel took over care and placed her in an ambulance, but the 41-year-old French tourist died while being transported to hospital.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
