A woman is fighting for her life at Heraklion’s Venizelio Hospital after critically injuring herself at the Malevizi Shooting Range in Crete. According to emergency responders from EKAB (National Center for Emergency Care), the woman — originally from Thessaloniki and in her late 30s or early 40s — was handling a firearm during a supervised session when she deliberately turned it toward herself and fired.
What Happened at the Range
Witnesses reported that moments before the incident, she told the range instructor, “Step back — you’re making me anxious.” The instructor complied, stepping away briefly. Immediately afterward, she placed the weapon under her neck and discharged it.
The shot caused a severe neck wound and massive, uncontrolled bleeding. Though she remained conscious and responsive upon initial assessment by paramedics, her condition was deemed extremely critical. She was rushed to the Venizelio General Hospital in Heraklion, where she was intubated and remains in intensive care. Medical staff describe her condition as very critical.
Instructor Confirms Intentional Act
The president of the Malevizi Shooting Club — who was also acting as her instructor that day — spoke to neakriti.gr, offering a detailed account and categorically rejecting theories of an accident.
He confirmed the woman’s presence was fully legal: she had visited the club as a guest following an official competition, and under current Greek legislation, visitors are permitted to take part in training sessions after completing standard safety procedures.
He described walking her through basic shooting protocols, emphasizing that she appeared calm, composed, and showed no signs of distress. “Because I was standing directly behind her, I couldn’t detect any warning signs,” he said. “We had a brief conversation — she seemed perfectly normal.”
Yet she repeatedly asked him to step back, citing anxiety. When he did, she acted swiftly — placing the gun beneath her neck and firing. “The weapon didn’t go off on its own,” he stressed. “She pulled the trigger — right in front of me.”
Deeply shaken, he emphasized the unprecedented nature of the event for the club — which has operated for decades, counts around 2,000 members, and has never experienced anything similar.