Girl drowns in Greek boat accident

An 11-year-old girl has died after getting trapped under a boat in an accident in western Greece, it was confirmed on Friday.

The girl, from Nottinghamshire, was out sailing in a catamaran off Paleros, near Lefkada, with two older girls when the boat capsized on Thursday afternoon.

Rescuers made attempts to resuscitate the girl, but she later died in hospital, said a spokesman for tour operator Sunsail.

In the 30 years, this is the first time a fatal accident has happened on these activities Sunsail spokesman

The three girls had booked their holiday with the company and were out sailing a catamaran when the tragedy happened.

The two older girls who were experienced sailors and the conditions at the time were "benign, force two, gentle swell and conditions good for sailing", according to the Sunsail spokesman.

When the boat suddenly turned over, the youngest girl was trapped underneath.

A rescue boat was at the scene within 30 seconds, but failed to free the 11-year-old.

A second rescue boat arrived and the rescuers took terms in administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to the girl while she was underwater.

She was eventually freed and taken inland where three doctors were on-hand to offer help.

'Traumatised'

She was taken to Levkas hospital where she was pronounced dead at 5pm local time, on Thursday.

The girl had been on a two-week Sunsail Watersports Club Holiday with her mother and elder sister when the incident occurred.

The family were due to return back to the UK on Monday, but Sunsail said they had flown home early and were already back in the UK.

The family of the girls out sailing with the 11-year-old, who had met each other while on holiday, had also been flown back home to the UK.

They were said to be "traumatised" by the accident.

The Sunsail Watersports Club Holiday offers a range of outdoor watersports activities including various types of sailing.

'Experienced'

A Sunsail spokesman said: "In the 30 years, this is the first time a fatal accident has happened on these activities.

"They went sailing, most of the people in the boat were experienced.

"Unfortunately we were unable to get her out in time."

He said the managing director of Sunsail had travelled immediately to the resort, close to the island of Lefkada, to take care of the situation.