A woman vacationing on the small Aegean island of Donoussa was seriously injured after a strong gust of wind turned a beach umbrella into a projectile, impaling her thigh. The incident, which occurred on July 11, has exposed serious gaps in emergency preparedness for Greece’s remote islands, particularly in areas with no road access.
The beach in question, accessible only by boat, was left in shock when the umbrella struck the young woman with such force that its pole nearly pierced her leg from side to side. Those nearby quickly stabilized the pole to prevent further damage while the island’s only doctor and nurse were transported by a local boat to the beach. They administered first aid, relieved to find the femoral artery had not been severed—a fact that likely saved her life.
No Protocol, No Transport, No Help
Despite the swift action of locals and medical personnel, transferring the injured woman posed a major challenge. The umbrella could not be removed without risking uncontrollable bleeding, and the absence of a proper pier made it impossible for an ambulance boat to reach the beach.
With no trauma team or firefighting service stationed on the island—and no formal emergency protocol for such situations—the woman’s evacuation relied entirely on volunteers. Ultimately, an 80-year-old local man used his private inflatable boat to help ferry her to the island’s helipad. Holidaymakers acted as stretcher-bearers, helping guide the injured woman through rough waves and strong winds.
She was airlifted to a hospital in Athens, where she is now recovering.
A Wake-Up Call for Remote Island Safety
This extraordinary rescue, while successful, has highlighted troubling systemic flaws. Donousa, like many of Greece’s so-called “non-commercial” islands, lacks the infrastructure to respond to serious emergencies. The absence of trained emergency responders, proper transport equipment, and coordinated health protocols means residents and visitors are left vulnerable.
Local reports emphasized that had the femoral artery been hit—or if no volunteer had been available—the outcome could have been fatal. The event has prompted renewed calls for the Greek state to invest in reliable emergency frameworks for hard-to-reach locations, especially during the busy tourist season.
