Kimolos is in mourning following the tragic death of 17-year-old Alex McKee, who was found unresponsive in the bathroom of the holiday home where he was vacationing with his mother and sister. The grief extends across the sea to Ireland, where Alex lived and grew up. According to the Irish Mirror, the teenager was from Cork, Ireland.
Alex was a student at a local school in Cork and was due to begin his final year of secondary school this coming September. He had strong ties to Kimolos, as his mother is originally from the island. He had travelled to Greece with her and his sister for their summer holiday, just days before the tragedy unfolded.
Kimolos: Who was the 17-year-old who died from electrocution
According to reports, Alex stood out for his exceptional academic performance and creativity. Earlier in the year, he had taken part in a student science programme, earning significant recognition for his work. As part of the project, he and his team designed “Bumblebee” — a pioneering communication system for children with speech difficulties. Their project claimed first place in its category and also received a special award from Ireland’s Office of the Ombudsman for Children.
“He was a truly talented young man”
Irish TD Colm Burke spoke with great emotion about Alex, having met him just months earlier at the exhibition where his award-winning project was presented. “It is extremely sad to hear that such a young person has died in such a tragic way,” he said, describing the teenager as a young man of exceptional talent with a bright future ahead. “He was a truly talented young man, with his whole life and a great career in front of him,” he added.
The timeline of the tragedy
The tragedy occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, 9 August. The 17-year-old was found unconscious in the bathroom of the property where he was staying with his family. Based on information available so far, initial assessments point to a possible electrocution, though the exact cause of death has not yet been officially determined.
What investigators are examining
Authorities are focusing their investigation on the property’s electrical installation, and in particular on the possibility of a fault or electrical current leakage from the water heater. Among the lines of inquiry being examined is a report that the electrical panel lacked a residual-current device (RCD) — the safety mechanism designed to cut off the power supply in the event of an electrical leak.
Alex’s body has been transferred to Piraeus, where a post-mortem examination is expected to take place. The autopsy is anticipated to shed light on the exact cause of his death.
