An 82-year-old man died after a dispute over a sun lounger on a Vouliagmeni beach near Athens. Reports say a scuffle erupted when a 76-year-old and a 21-year-old arrived; the young woman later received medical attention at a beach clinic. The older man collapsed, suffered a cardiac arrest, received CPR and was taken to a Voula hospital where he was declared dead about an hour later. Both the 76-year-old and the 21-year-old were arrested and police are investigating.
82-Year-Old Dies After Scuffle Over Sunlounger Near Athens
The incident took place in Vouliagmeni, a seaside town near Athens - Alamy Stock Photo
An 82-year-old man has died after a confrontation over a sun lounger on a beach in Vouliagmeni, a coastal suburb south of Athens, Greek media report. According to local outlets, the incident began on Sunday morning when the elderly man and his wife arrived at the beach and occupied a pair of sunbeds.
Shortly afterwards a 76-year-old man arrived on the beach accompanied by a 21-year-old woman. The two groups disputed the use of the sunbeds, and the young woman was later reported to have felt unwell and was taken to a clinic on the beach for medical attention.
When the 76-year-old returned after accompanying the woman to the clinic, witnesses say a physical altercation broke out between the two older men. The 82-year-old reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest during or immediately after the scuffle.
Emergency responders administered CPR at the scene before the man was rushed to a hospital in Voula, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later. Both the 76-year-old man and the 21-year-old woman were arrested, according to reports.
Friend of Arrested Man (to ProtoThema): "My friend went to get the sunbeds, I was getting a ticket. He got into an argument with the 82-year-old, who said to him, 'Do you know who I am? I'm from the navy.' My friend has injuries, as does the 21-year-old girl who was accompanying him."
Witness: "We heard voices, we ran to see what was happening and we saw a fight. There was chaos — I have never heard the woman's screams before. I saw them beating a man, another man, a woman. And then we saw them doing CPR on him."
Incidents involving reserved or contested sunbeds have become an increasingly visible issue on European beaches. In 2024, two women in Italy were filmed wrestling over loungers; the episode prompted public criticism and comments from local politicians about escalating tensions at popular seaside spots.
Note: Details in this report are based on local Greek media accounts and witness statements. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the altercation and the subsequent death.
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