A tragic outcome marked the search for a 65-year-old spearfisherman who had been missing since midday on Tuesday, 7 July. He had gone spearfishing near Frangokastello in the Sfakia region of Chania, Crete.
Body Recovered Between Rodakino and Frangokastello
According to an official statement from the Hellenic Coast Guard, the man’s body was recovered in the sea between Rodakino and Frangokastello. His relatives formally identified him.
Search Launched After Reported Disappearance
The search operation began the evening of Tuesday after family members reported him missing — he had not returned from his underwater fishing trip. During the operation, authorities located his spearfishing gun and buoy. These items were found several nautical miles away from where he had entered the water — a displacement attributed to strong winds prevailing in the area at the time.
Multi-Agency Rescue Effort
The operation was coordinated by the Unified Search and Rescue Centre (UCSAR) and involved a Coast Guard patrol vessel and a rescue boat. An additional fishing vessel and a Frontex aircraft also assisted. Parallel searches were conducted both at sea and on land.
Shortly after noon on Wednesday, rescuers located the man unconscious in the water — ending his family’s agonizing wait in the most heartbreaking way possible.