Incident Details

A 34-year-old British tourist has died after being pulled from the sea off the Greek island of Zakynthos, commonly known as Zante. The man reportedly got into difficulty while swimming near Marathonisi, a small islet popular with day-trippers, on Tuesday afternoon (August 18). Beachgoers raised the alarm after noticing him struggling in the water.

Officers from the Zakynthos Port Authority, assisted by people on the beach, brought him ashore and attempted resuscitation, including CPR. He was then transported to Zakynthos General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Official Statement

The Zakynthos Port Authority confirmed the incident in an official statement: "Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday), the Zakynthos Port Authority was informed of a 34-year-old foreigner (British citizen) in a difficult position near the Marathonisi area of Laganas, Zakynthos."

The statement continued: "With the assistance of beachgoers, he was transported to the shore, where he was provided with first aid using the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) method. The 34-year-old was picked up by a patrol boat and transported to the port of Agios Sostis, Zakynthos."

It added: "Subsequently, the man was taken to the Zakynthos General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Zakynthos Port Authority."

Investigation

The Port Authority has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death, as reported by The Mirror and cited by multiple local outlets.

Context: Zante and Overtourism

Zante has long been a popular destination for British holidaymakers. The 2025 Which? Travel report named the island the most overtouristed destination, calculating that overnight visitors outnumber local residents by 150 to one.