Tragedy struck in Kallithea, a suburb of Athens, as a seven-day-old baby girl was pronounced dead at the Agia Sofia Children’s Hospital after being initially taken to a veterinary clinic by her family.
According to early reports, the baby’s father and aunt, of Romanian descent, discovered in the early hours of Wednesday that the newborn was unresponsive. In a desperate attempt to get help, they brought her to a local veterinary clinic on Syggrou Avenue.
Clinic staff were reportedly shocked by the scene but immediately contacted emergency services. An ambulance from Greece’s National Emergency Center (EKAB) transported the infant to Agia Sofia Hospital. Doctors worked for 40 minutes to save her, but she ultimately could not be revived.
Sources indicate the baby was born prematurely and had a twin sibling. Standard tests were conducted to rule out influenza as a cause of death, with negative results reported.
Authorities, including the Hellenic Police, have begun an investigation at both the veterinary clinic and the hospital. They aim to clarify why the infant was taken to a veterinary facility instead of a medical hospital and are expected to interview family members to determine the exact circumstances leading to the incident.
