A boating excursion off Cape Greco turned fatal on Saturday after a Limassol businessman died when vessels were caught in extreme weather conditions that struck Cyprus.
The victim was identified as 76-year-old businessman Dimis Mavropoulos, who was operating one of the boats involved in the incident.
His daughter and partner, who were travelling with him on the vessel, were taken to hospital and remain under treatment.
Rescue teams from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre recovered Mavropoulos on Saturday afternoon following a major search operation.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) launched a search and rescue operation at 2.30pm, rescuing five people aboard three vessels in the sea area between Konnos Bay and Ayioi Anargyroi.
The first person was rescued by a patrol from the Famagusta Police Directorate and was reported to be in good health. Two more were rescued uninjured and were discharged after receiving first aid, while the partner and daughter of the 75-year-old were taken to Famagusta General Hospital, where they remain hospitalised.
Mavropoulos was eventually located unconscious by divers and airlifted to hospital, where doctors confirmed his death.
During the operation, a total of six people were recovered.
The JRCC said two of the three vessels were completely destroyed after running aground on rocks due to the heavy seas.
The first vessel was registered as a coastal tourist craft, while the other two were pleasure boats.
The operation involved a helicopter from the Police Air Operations Unit, a helicopter from the National Guard's 460 Search and Rescue Squadron, a patrol from the Famagusta Police Directorate, personnel from the Emergency Response Unit and the Famagusta Fire Station, as well as Ambulance Service crews.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Officials from the Department of Fisheries are expected to visit the area on Sunday morning to assess whether any oil pollution has occurred as a result of the sinkings.
Severe weather blamed for sinkings
Photographs published by Kitas Weather show the extent of the damage to the vessels after crashing on the rocks.
The sinkings occurred as thunderstorms, strong winds and rough sea conditions affected several parts of Cyprus under an orange weather warning.
The severe weather conditions led to multiple problems across the island, with the Fire Service called out 357 times by late afternoon, including one incident involving the rescue of a child on the 4th floor balcony of a building in Ayios Dhometios. Elsewhere, a man was taken to hospital with minor injuries after being hit by lightning in Kato Drys, while a family had to move to a hotel when a lightning strike damaged their home in Avgorou in the Famagusta district.
Who was Dimis Mavropoulos?
Dimis Mavropoulos was closely associated with Cypriot entrepreneurship and motorsport. Born in Limassol in 1949, he was a well-known figure in the city.
As a businessman, he initially worked in the trade and export of Cypriot agricultural products, particularly citrus fruits, to the British market, continuing a family business tradition. Later in life, he expanded his business and investment activities, including a presence in the real estate sector.
"I always liked the unknown"
"I always liked the unknown," he said in a November 2017 interview with Politis journalist Pavlos Neophytou about his career in motorsport and the Cyprus Motor Museum he established in Limassol, driven by his passion for cars.
"I didn't like doing the same thing all the time. I wanted to enter a 'forest' and be afraid of the 'forest' - but for it to be afraid of me as well. I wanted to beat the time of the best driver, who was the 'forest' against me."
Among his favourite sayings, which he shared in that interview, were:
"If you do not encounter your limits, you cannot say that you are trying."
"Half of a rally is won in the preparation of the garage."
