British holidaymaker died on holiday in Greece after freak accident on inflatable sofa
A British holidaymaker died in a freak accident on an inflatable sofa being pulled by a speedboat as his partner looked on in horror.
Father-of-three Simon Crewe was on the last day of a “holiday of a lifetime” on the Greek island of Kefalonia when the accident happened.
The 57-year-old had been on the ride with brother David, 62, and a friend while partner Vicki Hewitt, 49, watched from the speedboat when a “massive bang” was heard.
Simon’s friend was thrown off the ride and the group realised Simon had stopped breathing.
Vicki looked on in horror as the driver carried out emergency first aid to try to revive him but, despite being rushed to hospital, he passed away.
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Vicki said: “Simon wanted us all to go on the sofa but I had a bad back so myself and another woman went in the boat.
“We didn’t have life jackets but the three men who went on the sofa did. Then there was this massive bang. We had no idea what had happened, as we were looking the other way.”
David, who was hit by something during the incident, also described a “massive bang” and seeing their friend thrown into the sea.
“I turned to Simon and – I don’t know what had happened, but I watched him die,” he said.
Vicki said she “screamed at the top of my lungs for help” as soon as she realised what had happened and looked on as the driver of the speedboat tried to perform CPR.
“We were 20 metres out at sea and no-one on the beach could hear me screaming for help.”
Simon, who was due to become a grandfather in August, was taken to hospital but sadly died. His death, which happened at the beach resort of Lassi, has been described as unexplained. An inquest is due to take place in Greece.
“It was the worst day of my life,” said Vicki. “The only comfort I can find is that everyone including Simon had been having the best holiday ever, filled with fun and laughter, which we will never forget, before tragedy struck.”
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson said staff have offered advice to the partner of a British man who had died in Greece and are in contact with Greek authorities.
