A nurse at Athens’ Attiko Hospital alerted security after spotting a 90-year-old man attempting to enter the room where acclaimed Greek actress Maro Kontou is being treated — carrying a knife concealed in the back pocket of his trousers.
Alarm raised late Wednesday night
The incident occurred late on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, shortly after 10 p.m., at Attiko Hospital — where Kontou is currently hospitalized in the cardiology department. According to reports, the elderly man impersonated a relative of the actress and managed to pass through the hospital’s main entrance en route to her ward, reportedly intending to visit her.
He entered holding a small flowerpot in one hand and had a knife sheath visibly protruding from the back pocket of his pants. A nurse on duty noticed the weapon immediately and alerted hospital security, stating, “A man with a knife is outside the actress’s room,” as confirmed by Michalis Giannakos, president of the Panhellenic Nurses’ Association (POEDIN).
Quick response prevented potential tragedy
“Yesterday at 10 p.m., a man was loitering outside the cardiology clinic holding a small cassette box, with a knife sheath clearly visible in his back pocket,” Giannakos told newsit.gr. “He was approached by a nurse who asked what he wanted. He gave inconsistent answers — first claiming to be a family member, then saying he wanted to see Mrs. Kontou. The nurse, having spotted the sheath, immediately notified hospital security.”
Security personnel contacted the Hellenic Police, who arrived promptly and arrested the man. Authorities are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and the man’s motives.
Kontou remains stable and upbeat
Maro Kontou continues to receive treatment in the cardiology unit. Medical staff describe her as the ‘joy of the ward’, sharing stories from her long career with fellow patients. Notably, from the outset, she expressed a preference to stay in a shared room rather than a private one.