A 20-month-old girl tragically lost her life on the evening of July 24 in Heraklion, Crete, after choking on a piece of meat while dining with her family. The toddler reportedly began choking as she was eating souvlaki, a popular Greek dish, prompting an immediate rush to the hospital.
Despite the best efforts of medical staff, who performed CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) for over an hour and attempted to clear the airway through suction, the child could not be revived.
Hospital director Kostas Dandoulakis confirmed the heartbreaking incident, stating, “The child arrived intubated at the hospital, and despite the superhuman efforts made, including suction of the food, unfortunately, the child did not recover.” He added, “Everything possible was done by the hospital staff to save the little girl, but sadly it was not enough.”
The case has deeply saddened both the medical personnel involved and the local community. The incident underscores the critical importance of food safety and supervision for young children, particularly with foods that pose choking hazards.
