Tragedy in Rhodes: lightning kills 58-year-old German tourist on the beach, her husband lightly injured

A tragedy on Friday afternoon in southern Rhodes, where a 58-year-old German tourist lost her life after being struck by lightning, as the local newspaper Rodiaki reports. The incident happened at around 14:45, as a storm front with torrential rain and frequent lightning struck the Aegean for a second day.

According to the newspaper, the woman was struck by lightning and died on the spot. An ambulance was immediately called to the scene, but when the medical team arrived, the 58-year-old was already without a pulse and every effort to save her was in vain. Authorities are investigating the exact circumstances of the incident.

Her 62-year-old husband was also lightly injured by the same strike, but survived. According to the Greek state news agency, the two German tourists had arrived in Rhodes on holiday a few days earlier. At the moment of the tragedy, the couple were walking near the beach, on sandy ground, when the lightning struck them — and according to initial assessments, their bodies may have been wet, as they had come out of swimming a few minutes earlier.

The incident comes as bad weather strikes the Aegean islands for a second day. The Greek meteorological service has warned that rain and storms will continue until Sunday, with strong winds and frequent lightning at sea.