Hours of anguish for a 60-year-old fisherman from Sparta, whose fate remains unknown since Monday afternoon in Gythio, with his boat found empty on a rocky coastline. Authorities are examining all scenarios, while relatives are in distress and the search for him continues for a fourth day in the waters off Gythio. His boat was found at Trinisa on a rocky coast, drifting without control, and the only thing discovered on the vessel was his mobile phone.
Read: Alert in Gythio: 60-year-old fisherman’s traces lost – His boat found at rocky location
Family testimonies of the missing fisherman in Gythio
The missing man’s sister spoke to Live News, emphasizing “maybe he had some medical condition, maybe something happened to him suddenly, he lost consciousness and fell into the sea“. “George left at 12 noon. He went to cast his nets. On the return trip, however, George put on autopilot with destination the port of Gythio“, continued the missing man’s sister. “He had no issues with the weather. It was a large fishing boat. It’s just that coincidentally that day he was alone. While he usually has someone with him“, the 60-year-old’s cousin told Live News. His cousin speculates that, “the most likely scenario is that the net pulled him down. This has happened many times before, it’s not unusual. Now you might ask why he wasn’t found. Because the currents might have carried him completely opposite from where they’re searching“.
Some friends of fisherman George, as they call him, are even thinking of the worst-case scenario.
“Something else has happened. It’s impossible that he fell. My mind goes to the bad thought that someone hit him“, relatives say characteristically.
The 60-year-old’s cousin told Live News:
-Well, I heard some strange things that I don’t think are true.
-Like what?
-That he was found in the wrong place at the wrong time.
A family friend stated: “They’re searching everywhere though, because friends came down with boats and the state too. The searches continue, that’s what they told me this morning normally. And volunteers went with dogs and searched the coasts and many private boats helped in the searches“.
When the fisherman’s traces were lost & where authorities are focusing
His shop has remained closed since Monday afternoon. Before leaving for fishing, he passed by his shop in Sparta on Monday morning. He greeted his wife and left for the port of Gythio. Since then, the last communication with his wife was at 2 PM, shortly before his traces were lost. The search operation involves two Coast Guard patrol boats, while the possibility of helicopter assistance is being considered, weather conditions permitting. The competent authorities are examining all possible scenarios regarding the causes of the vessel’s loss of control and appeal to citizens moving in the area to be particularly careful and to inform immediately in case they notice anything related.
