Coast guard units have launched a search operation for a 70-year-old foreign national reported missing while windsurfing off the popular Dodecanese island of Kos in the eastern Aegean.
According to the Hellenic Coast Guard, the operation involves a patrol vessel, a privately owned boat and a coast guard vehicle conducting shoreline searches.
Northwesterly winds of up to force 4 on the Beaufort scale were reported in the area, somewhat complicating search operations.
Authorities have not disclosed the circumstances under which contact with the windsurfer was lost, and no further information about his condition or last known location was immediately available.
Search-and-rescue operations involving tourists and recreational water users are a recurring feature of Greece’s summer season, particularly on islands where strong winds and changing sea conditions can quickly create hazardous situations.
In recent years, authorities in the eastern Mediterranean country have conducted numerous searches for missing swimmers, sailors and hikers across the country, underscoring the importance of monitoring weather conditions and following local safety guidance during outdoor activities.
