American athlete Johnny Dijulius has drawn attention after proposing to his partner at Zakynthos’ famous Navagio Beach, despite an ongoing ban on access to the beach.
In a video he posted on Instagram, Dijulius showed how he planned and carried out the proposal while knowing that access to Navagio was prohibited.
“It is practically illegal what I am doing,” he can be heard saying during the preparations.
His partner arrived at the beach by boat, while Dijulius chose a more dramatic route. He paraglided over Navagio and landed on the sand, where he proposed.
The couple shared footage of the flight and the proposal on social media, showing them at a beach where access remains prohibited because of the risk of landslides.
Dijulius has competed in wrestling in the United States and was a member of the Ohio State University team. In recent years, he has also taken part in aerial sports and high-adrenaline activities.
Social media backlash
The athlete’s decision prompted criticism online, with many users pointing out that access to Navagio Beach is prohibited.
“Brother, you can’t land there, it’s illegal. It’s in Greece, in Zakynthos, and I went there on vacation a week ago,” one user commented under the posts.
The restrictions have not stopped the iconic beach from remaining a major attraction, but the couple’s social media posts highlighted their decision to enter an area where access is currently prohibited.
