A 13-year-old boy tragically lost his life while his 9-year-old sister was seriously injured at an amusement park in Elliniko on Sunday, 27thof April. According to the latest hospital, update the 9-year-old girl is currently in a stable condition, having suffered a chest strain.
Preliminary reports suggested that the two children where playing in giant inflatable balls in a swimming pool, when a gust of wind blew them away and crashed them into walls and other heavy objects at the amusement park. A local resident however claimed that there was no sudden gust of wind and “something obviously went wrong with the inflatable ball”.
The two children were rushed to the Children’s Hospital; however it was too late for the 13-year-old boy. Paramedics tried to resuscitate the boy for over 40 minutes with no result, while his sister was admitted in an intensive care unit. Doctors report that she is out of danger.
The police reported that three amusement park employees have been detained and were taken for questioning to the police department of Elliniko. According to a report by Mega Channel, the amusement park owner who has been in touch with the police, was in Giannena at the time of the tragic incident and en route to Athens.
The owner has claimed to have acquired a permit for the operation of the amusement park, however To Vima has learned the relevant committee tasked with examining the merits of entertainment-related permits had not convened. The investigation is currently under way, with the police examining whether the relevant health and safety measures were enforced.
The Minister of Administrative Reform Kyriakos Mitsotakis has tasked the Special Secretary of the Body of Public Administration Auditors and Inspectors (SEEDD) Paraskevas Nomikos with investigating whether the amusement park had a legitimate operating license.
Meanwhile, the Municipality of Elliniko – Argyroupoli issued a statement clarifying that while it signed a contract with the amusement park operator regarding the lease of a park, the company did not submit, nor apply for, the relevant permit.
