January 24, 2026

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Samos tragedy: 12-year-old child torn apart by boat propeller


A Turkish smuggler involved in the transportation of illegal immigrants threw 37 migrants and a 12-year-old child into the water, and then tried to escape from a coast guard boat. The teenager fell under the boat’s propellers and was literally torn to pieces.

The incident on the island caused deep shock and outrage Samoswhere early Monday morning 12 year old boy died when a boat carrying migrants arrived. The child was found on the beach of Svala, in the Campos Vourlioton area, dead and severely mutilated ship propelleraccording to the portal samos24.gr.

Officers arrived on scene coast guardwhich were discovered in total 37 migrantsas well as the body of a minor. The area was cordoned off, and initial investigative actions and registration of everyone who was on board the boat began.

According to the public broadcaster ERTboat helmsman – presumably Turkish smuggler – first threw people, including a child, into the sea, and then tried to escape by maneuvering the ship. It was at this moment, according to the preliminary version, that the child’s fatal contact with the boat’s propeller occurred.

Coast Guard sources cited by agency AMNA (APE–MPE)they report that the suspect in organizing the crossing abandoned ship on a nearby stretch of coast and tried to leave as soon as he noticed the approach patrol boat. Now his whereabouts are unknown.

A joint operation to search for the carrier and possible others involved continues in the area, involving units of the coast guard and greek police. The version of criminal liability for people smugglingendangering life and causing death by negligence under particularly difficult circumstances.

The child’s body was transported to Samos General Hospital to conduct a forensic medical examination, which should clarify the mechanism of injury and the exact time of death. At the same time, the identity of the deceased and his family relationship with other migrants who were on the boat are being established.

All 37 migrantswho were on board, will be delivered to Samos Reception and Identification Center (RIC) to undergo the prescribed registration procedures, medical examination and initial placement. Authorities are also checking whether there are any close relatives of the deceased child among them.

The Samos tragedy has once again highlighted the deadly risks of the Mediterranean migration route and the cynical practices of networks of transporters who, according to investigators, throw people into the sea and try to escape when patrol boats appear, without taking into account the age or condition of those they transport.



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