Chania: The Heartfelt Post by the Family of 21-Year-Old Found Deceased in Samaria Gorge

The family of 21-year-old Johann is in deep mourning after the tragic discovery of his body in the Samaria Gorge. Currently, efforts are underway to retrieve his remains from a remote location. As reported by Flashnews.gr, a hiking unit from the 3rd Special Operations Brigade out of Heraklion has been deployed to the Chania region and is attempting to reach the site where Johann’s body was found. Additionally, there is a request for helicopter assistance, though no final decision has been made yet. Throughout Johann’s disappearance, his family never ceased searching for him. They traveled to Crete to stay close to the investigation, hoping until the very end that he would be found alive. However, on Friday morning (March 14, 2025), the worst-case scenario unfolded when Johann was discovered deceased in an extremely rugged area by a group of volunteer climbers. In response to this tragic turn of events, Johann’s family posted an emotional message bidding him farewell and thanking those who supported them during the search. According to their post, it appears that the young man succumbed to extreme cold and exhaustion. The post reads: ‘Our little brother Johann had a tragic accident in the White Mountains of Crete on February 13, 2025. A team of six local volunteer climbers began searching for Johann yesterday, March 13, 2025, coordinated with us. They spent the night at a mountain refuge and found Johann this morning, February 14, deceased. While the autopsy is pending, all indications suggest he succumbed to extreme cold and exhaustion. He successfully navigated all the difficult parts of the trail but collapsed on the path. We deeply loved Johann; he meant everything to us, leaving behind an immense void—not only for our family but also for his friends, colleagues, and everyone who knew him. We will keep him in our hearts forever and miss him terribly. We want to sincerely thank everyone involved in the search. It means so much to us that so many volunteers came forward to help. A special thank you to the climbers who found Johann yesterday morning! We also want to thank everyone who supported us during this time—for your kind messages, advice, and information, and for keeping Johann in your thoughts.’