A tragic end marked a hiking expedition on Mount Olympus in northern Greece, where a 40-year-old Greek hiker died after falling into a steep, inaccessible ravine on Mount Mytikas — the second-highest peak of Greece’s iconic mountain range. The incident occurred on Saturday, 22 August 2026, around midday.
Emergency Response and Rescue Efforts
Authorities were alerted at approximately 1:20 p.m. about the fall in a remote area between Louki and Kakoskala — two well-known landmarks on the Mytikas route. According to preliminary reports, the hiker lost his way during descent and plunged into a deep, rugged gully. Despite rapid mobilization of emergency resources, including specialized mountain rescue teams, the terrain proved extremely challenging.
The Hellenic Fire Service activated its Operations Center upon receiving the alert. Ten firefighters from the Litochoro unit responded immediately, joined by Mountain Search and Rescue Teams (O.O.E.D.) from the 2nd and 8th Emergency Response Units (E.M.A.K.), volunteers from the Hellenic Rescue Team (E.O.D.), and a helicopter operated by the Hellenic Air Force’s Search and Rescue Coordination Center (E.K.S.E.D.).
Recovery Operation
Volunteers from the Hellenic Rescue Team located the man unconscious near the Louki area. Due to the extreme inaccessibility of the site, ground teams first carried him to a more reachable location before transferring him to the E.K.S.E.D. helicopter. He was then airlifted to the helipad of the 110th Combat Wing in Larissa, where an EKAB ambulance took over for further medical assessment.
Unfortunately, the hiker was pronounced deceased prior to arrival at any medical facility. His body was recovered later that afternoon — a complex and physically demanding operation captured in video footage shared by the Fire Service on social media.
The Fire Service confirmed the conclusion of the operation in the late afternoon of Saturday, 22 August 2026. Mount Olympus — part of the Olympus National Park and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve — remains a popular but demanding destination for climbers and hikers, especially during summer months when weather conditions can change rapidly and trails become more hazardous.