A large pufferfish made an appearance at the famous Marathi Beach in Chania, Crete, causing panic among swimmers in the area. The dangerous fish was pulled out of the water by beach staff, who quickly moved to remove it and ensure the safety of those enjoying the sea.
This incident comes as concerns mount over a separate case in Patras, where a swimmer claimed she was struck by a pufferfish while swimming at a local beach — an incident that has intensified fears about the growing presence of this species in Greek waters.
Regarding the swimmer in Patras, the woman recounted how she was struck by a pufferfish while swimming, bringing the dangers associated with this species in Greek waters back into the spotlight.
As she explained in an interview on Star TV’s evening news bulletin, she suddenly saw something coming straight at her and cried out, “What is that?” The fish then struck her in the neck, near the carotid artery, and she hit back at it, causing it to retreat. “I said, ‘Something bit me, something bit me,’ a woman looked at me and said, ‘You’re bleeding, get out of the water,’ and everyone got out,” the 60-year-old recounted. The woman was immediately transferred to the Patras Health Centre, where doctors provided first aid and followed the standard medical protocol for injuries caused by marine animals.
“She came in with abrasions on her neck and upper chest”
“She came in with abrasions on her neck and the anterior thoracic region. A tetanus shot was administered, the wound was cleaned, and antibiotics were prescribed,” said Charalampos Bakopoulos, head of the Northern Patras Health Centre. In separate comments to ERT, he noted that the woman told him she had just entered the water when she spotted a large fish that resembled a pufferfish. According to the doctor, she said: “It came straight at me, hit me with its head in the neck area, and left a scratch.” Mr. Bakopoulos clarified that the injury was not a bite, but rather a strike that caused an abrasion.
What witnesses say
According to the accounts of the swimmer and the two women who were with her, the fish was large and resembled a pufferfish. However, absolute certainty about the exact species that struck her cannot be established based on eyewitness testimony alone. What is clear is that concern among beachgoers is running high, driven by the noticeable increase in the pufferfish population in Greek waters.
Pufferfish: What to do if you are struck or injured
In the event of an injury caused by a fish, Mr. Bakopoulos advised that swimmers should thoroughly wash the affected area and immediately go to a health centre or hospital for first aid.
He also stressed that there is no need to panic, but that people should be aware of the basic steps to take and seek medical attention whenever an injury occurs.
