A young British tourist remains in critical condition after a latest quad bike accident involving a collision with a tourist bus on the Ionian island of Zakynthos, adding to growing concerns over accidents involving the popular rental vehicles at well-known Greek holiday destinations.
Bradley Bellom, 20, from Salford, northwest England, suffered severe head injuries in the crash on Friday, one day after arriving on the island with friends for a holiday. Local authorities are investigating the circumstances of the collision.
According to British media reports, the quad bike carrying Bellom and another passenger collided with a tourist bus on a road in the Laganas area. Bellom was initially treated at Zakynthos general hospital before being transferred to an intensive care unit at a hospital in the Athens area because of the severity of his injuries. His friend also remains hospitalized with injuries, British media reported.
Bellom’s mother, Leanne Rabbets, told the Manchester Evening News she learned of the Zakynthos quad crash by telephone on Friday afternoon after speaking with her son following his arrival in Greece the previous day. She said the family has sought assistance from the British embassy in Athens and is trying to determine whether Bellom had travel insurance, as they have been unable to access his mobile phone.
Relatives said medical staff are continuing to assess the extent of his traumatic brain injury and that it remains unclear when he may be able to return to the United Kingdom.
Among others, family and friends have launched online fundraising efforts, including a GoFundMe campaign, to help the family meet medical and travel expenses.
Quad bikes, or all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), are widely rented by holiday makers on Greek islands despite repeated safety warnings from authorities.
Over the past year, several serious and fatal crashes involving visitors have been reported on islands including Zakynthos, Mykonos, Santorini and Crete, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement of road safety rules, greater oversight of rental companies and improved public awareness of the vehicles’ handling characteristics.
Greek authorities have repeatedly urged riders to wear helmets, avoid excessive speeds and refrain from driving under the influence, particularly during the busy summer tourism season.
Under Greek law, quad bikes are subject to the rules governing motor vehicles and must be registered, insured and operated by appropriately licensed drivers. Helmet use is mandatory for both riders and passengers, while rental companies are required to verify that customers hold a valid driving licence covering the vehicle category.
Traffic violations, including speeding, impaired driving and failure to wear protective equipment, are subject to administrative penalties and, where applicable, criminal sanctions.
