At the Holy Church of Metamorphosis of Soteros, in Sotira, Trikala—his hometown—the final chapter in the tragedy of the death of 30-year-old Stefanou Kemos was written on Tuesday afternoon. He drowned while fighting the waves at Kathisma beach in Lefkada.

The tragic figures include his fiancée, Martha Galani, his parents, Kostas and Daphne Kemos, his sister Veni, relatives, and hundreds of friends who silently bid farewell to the 30-year-old. The funeral was officiated by Bishop Chrysostomos of Trikala, who earlier delivered an emotional farewell to Stefanou.

The young man was in Lefkada for his bachelor party, ahead of his wedding with his fiancée Martha, scheduled for June 14.

How the tragic incident

Stefanou had been planning a trip with friends to celebrate his bachelor party. He chose Lefkada to enjoy carefree moments with loved ones, but unfortunately, fate played a cruel game.

On Sunday, the Coast Guard issued a warning for strong winds and dangerous sea conditions. At Kathisma beach in Lefkada, although there were sunbeds and people present, no one entered the water, and there was no lifeguard on duty—according to regulations, the municipality is required to deploy three lifeguards from June 1 to September 30.

Despite the stormy sea, Stefanou decided to swim. Witnesses on the beach, who tried to help him, said that “people shouted ‘don’t tire yourself, try to stay calm’.” Someone approached him from about a meter away, attempting to rescue him, but suddenly a large wave pushed him back.

One witness said: “At that moment, he was alive, trying to swim out as best as he could. We were shouting at him to stay calm.”

His fiancée learned the tragic news while in Kythnos with her friends for her bachelorette party. Her sister was with her, and the moments that followed, when they learned the news, resembled an ancient tragedy.

Meanwhile, his parents were at home in Trikala, making preparations for the wedding scheduled for June 14 in Messolonghi. All the details for Stefanou’s wedding with his beloved Martha had already been arranged, and the reception was to take place at a hotel in Messolonghi, which had been exclusively booked for the couple’s guests from Trikala.