The neighborhood in the area of Xirokrini, in the municipality of Thessaloniki is experiencing its own drama over the loss of the 8 girls who drowned on Tuesday (13/8) in the camping pool in Kryopigi, Halkidiki.
Yesterday, shortly before 10 am, the autopsy was completed at the Medical Forensic Directorate of Thessaloniki and the findings “showed” that the child died from drowning, confirming the initial information that she was found alone in the camp pool.
Following the arrest of the 19-year-old group leader, the 34-year-old “leader” of the camp was also arrested. The man was taken to the Kassandra Police Department, and a case was filed against him for manslaughter by negligence. However, both were released until the trial with an oral order of the Public Prosecutor.
According to information from ThessToday.gr, the Greek Police is also looking for the legal representative, who is a resident of Athens and 72 years old, in order to handcuff him within the framework of the autofour.
The operating permits for the swimming pools were revoked, they did not meet specifications
The municipality of Kassandra has revoked the operating permits for the swimming pools at the camp where the 8-year-old girl was found dead in Halkidiki, following a unanimous decision by the municipal committee.
Specifically, during the meeting it was reported that an on-site inspection at the camp revealed that in one of the swimming pools, part of the fencing was not as intended in a designated and safe area for children, leaving points from which access to the swimming pool was possible.
View an excerpt from the minutes of the EPA meeting
As for the second pool, the inspection revealed that the necessary life jackets and pole were not provided and there were no depth markings.
In addition, it was found that the person appointed as the person responsible for ensuring that the operation of the two swimming pools complied with the relevant health and tourism regulations had not been hired by the owner for the year 2024 and no other person had been appointed.
According to the 2016 ministerial decision, which sets out the criteria for the operation of campsites, the swimming pool must be located in a secure and properly fenced area with a fixed fence 1.20 meters high to ensure its use under the supervision of the required personnel, such as lifeguards.
It is recalled that the Municipality of Kassandra had issued operating permits for the two swimming pools of this camp in August 2022. At today’s (Wednesday 14/08) extraordinary meeting, it was decided to revoke the operating permits, as it was found that the data on the basis of which the permits had been issued had changed.
![xalkidiki-apofasi-13](https://i1.prth.gr/images/w880/files/2024-08-14/xalkidiki-apofasi-13.jpg)
![xalkidiki-apofasi-1](https://i1.prth.gr/images/w880/files/2024-08-14/xalkidiki-apofasi-1.jpg)
![xalkidiki-apofasi-12](https://i1.prth.gr/images/w880/files/2024-08-14/xalkidiki-apofasi-12.jpg)
The camp hasn’t told us anything about how our child died, says father of 8-year-old
Answers about his daughter’s death are being sought by the father of the 8-year-old girl who drowned in a camp pool in Halkidiki.
As he told Alpha, they have not been told anything by the camp about the incident. “I don’t know if there was supervision. We have not been told anything from the camp. I’m afraid the child may have drowned while swimming with the other children and they didn’t realize it at the time, but much later,” he stressed.
Watch video:
In addition to the arrest of the group leader and the camp leader -who were released – police are also looking for the legal representative of the camp to handcuff him in the course of an autopsy.
According to thesstoday.gr, the prosecutor has ordered an expert examination at the camp’s swimming pool, the area where the child was found unconscious. He wants to determine whether the conditions are suitable for the safety and security of children, while the same control has ordered the same control and overall in the camp, as if omissions are detected, may even seal it.
After the 19-year-old group leader, the 34-year-old camp leader, who is also charged with involuntary manslaughter, was released.
What camp officials say
Recall that twelve hours after the tragic incident, the camp issued a statement. It is “Camp Education Inc.” which operates one of the most famous camps in Northern Greece in Kryopigi, Halkidiki. The company briefly presents what preceded and followed the fatal incident.
The company’s entire statement:
“Today, Tuesday, August 13, after lunch was completed and the campers were in their rooms for their midday rest, it was discovered that a camper was missing. Camp headquarters was immediately notified and a team of staff members began searching for her on the camp grounds.
The camper was found in the pool unconscious. The camper was given first aid using cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of a defibrillator by camp medical staff and the ambulance, which was immediately called to the site.
An ambulance transported the camper to the Kassandra Health Center and then to the Thessaloniki AHEPA Hospital where her death was determined. We would like to express our deep sorrow for the loss of our camper and we will assist in every way the authorities to investigate the circumstances of the accident.”
“They brought our child dead,” says grandmother of minor
At the same time, the 8-year-old’s grandmother is shocked: “We sent our child to enjoy his holidays with friends and they brought him back dead,” she said, while a person from the same environment said that “it is a very big responsibility to take care of children,” reports thesstoday.gr.