A search operation is underway in southern Gythio, in Southern Greece, for a 60-year-old fisherman who has been missing since Monday, after his boat was found adrift and empty on a rocky shoreline, authorities and relatives said.
The man, who lives in Sparta, left around noon to set his fishing nets and programmed his vessel on autopilot to return to the port, according to his sister. The boat never reached the harbor and was later located near the Trinisa area, 7 km north of Gythio, with only his cellphone on board.
Two vessels from the Hellenic Coast Guard, divers and volunteers have been combing the sea and coastline for days. Friends have also joined with private boats, while volunteers have searched coastal areas on foot, including with the help of a search dog.
Relatives say the fisherman was alone that day, although he often fishes with someone else. Weather conditions were reported as normal, and his boat was described as large and suitable for the trip.
Family members are considering multiple scenarios. His sister said a sudden medical emergency could have caused him to fall into the water. A cousin suggested he may have become entangled in fishing nets and been pulled overboard, noting that currents could have carried him away from the main search area.
Some friends fear a more serious possibility, though no evidence has emerged to support those claims.
The fisherman was described by those who know him as highly experienced and deeply familiar with the sea, fishing every week and even performing his own underwater repairs when needed. He regularly caught fish to sell at his shop, which has remained closed since Monday afternoon.
His last known contact with his wife was around 2 p.m. on Monday, shortly before he disappeared. Earlier that morning, he had visited his shop, said goodbye to his wife and headed to the port.
Speaking to Live News, his wife said the area where the boat was found was familiar to him from previous fishing trips, both alone and with company. The family continues to hope he will be found alive.
Search efforts remain ongoing.
