A tragic workplace accident occurred on Saturday in the area of Daphnes, Heraklion, where a worker lost his life after falling into a sewage tank under unclear circumstances.
The worker was employed by a contractor tasked with cleaning the biological treatment facility in Daphnes. According to local reports (via Cretalive), the man fell into the tank and was recovered unconscious. Despite immediate efforts, he was later pronounced dead.
The victim was an approximately 55-year-old man of Albanian origin. He had initially been reported missing during the operation.
How the Worker Was Found
A second worker at the site alerted the Fire Department after being unable to locate his colleague for some time. Upon noticing the tank’s hatch was left open, he feared the worst.
Ten firefighters with three vehicles responded to the emergency. With the assistance of a tanker truck used to drain the sewage, they located the victim inside the tank. He was pulled out unresponsive and transported to the hospital, where his death was confirmed.
A coroner’s examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. An investigation by the relevant authorities is currently underway.
Second Workplace Death in 48 Hours
This incident follows another tragic workplace accident within the same 48-hour period. On Saturday afternoon, 51-year-old sound technician Yiannis Artopoulos—longtime collaborator of popular singer Konstantinos Argyros—was killed in a traffic accident near the Egnatia Highway, en route to a scheduled concert in Preveza.
According to initial reports, the fatal crash occurred when a tire on the professional vehicle he was traveling in burst while in motion. A second passenger, a young man around 20 years old, sustained minor injuries and is not in danger.
Artopoulos, a husband and father of a 12-year-old daughter, was widely respected in his field. His colleagues expressed deep sorrow over his passing.
In a public statement, the Union of Live Audiovisual Event Technicians (STAZOE) and the Greek Theatre Technicians’ Association (SETTH) condemned the harsh and demanding conditions under which technicians often work: “We are required to work continuously for many days or weeks, under relentless pressure and exhaustion, during heatwaves, and with back-to-back events—often without sleep—in order to successfully deliver concerts and live productions.”
