Halkidiki: “They told me to leave because they would lynch me,” Says operator of the fatal amusement park ride

The relation of the fatal “Crazy Dance” thrust astatine the Halkidiki amusement park, wherever a 19-year-old mislaid his life, spoke astir what happened connected the nighttime of August 19.

“I was shocked. It’s a precise hard thing. My condolences to the child’s parents. I was frightened due to the fact that it was the archetypal clip I had seen thing similar this successful my life… I besides consciousness guilty. The child’s decease was unjust. I americium not to blame, but still, my condolences to the parents,” the relation told Mega.

He added that helium was not nether the power of intoxicant astatine the clip of the tragedy.

“I conscionable went to gain a surviving to enactment my child. There were immoderate bluish and yellowish seats, lone the pinkish ones were working, and that time the children sat successful the bluish ones. I had been told to spot radical lone successful the pinkish seats, truthful I changed the seats for the children. The velocity was normal. I had been told it should beryllium betwixt 50 and 60 astatine most. When the parent said ‘slow down,’ I went to little it and saw the kid successful the air,” helium said.

“I was successful shock. I was frightened astatine that moment; they told maine to permission due to the fact that they would lynch me. It was said by the idiosyncratic who has been moving with him for years (i.e., the owner’s associate). I near down the park, drank water, calmed down. I returned and they said I should spell location truthful nary 1 would spot me. I went home, and astatine that moment, I was told to battalion my things and beryllium taken to Kilkis and fell for 48 hours.”

The 21-year-old relation added that helium did not cognize the information of the equipment: “If I had noticed, I wouldn’t person gone connected the rides astatine all. I didn’t cognize anything,” helium emphasized.

Amusement Park Provided Declarations Instead of Safety Certifications

It is noted that connected the greeting of Monday, the begetter of the unfortunate Giannis went to the courthouse successful Polygyros, Halkidiki. According to information, Mr. Kabaïlis, on with the lawyers representing the family, submitted documents showing that the amusement parkland operated illegally this twelvemonth and provided declarations alternatively of the legally required certifications.

Specifically, arsenic indicated by the documents—five declarations published by protothema.gr—the recipient is the Municipality of Kassandra, and the signatory is simply a mechanical engineer. These declarations besides interest the information conditions of the installations.

“An inspection was conducted for the due erection of the metallic structures, a ocular cheque of the mechanical instrumentality and hydraulic systems, arsenic good arsenic checking the instrumentality and due grounding,” states a papers dated May 3, 2024, signed by the mechanical engineer. It is notable that the papers adds, “The installation meets each method and information standards and tin run for the nationalist without electrical risks.”

Another declaration with the aforesaid day states that “all indispensable measures person been taken for the harmless cognition of the installation and the information of spectators and workers,” with the declarations besides covering the “Crazy Dance” thrust from which 19-year-old Giannis was thrown and mislaid his beingness instantly. This declaration highlights that “the work for the due functioning and attraction of the installation lies with the proprietor of the facility.”

According to the method inspection report, the issuance day is December 21, 2023, with the method inspection conducted connected August 4, 2023, and the adjacent scheduled for April 2024. However, it is reported that the amusement parkland operated with declarations and not with certifications, arsenic the method inspection had not been carried out.

Statements from the Father of the 19-Year-Old

In statements made earlier entering the courthouse, the begetter of the 19-year-old told reporters that helium would present to the authoritative each documents proving the inadequacy of the thrust that led to his son’s death.

“Today we judge we volition person the authoritative to proceed with each indispensable charges. My lad follows maine (i.e., the lad who is adjacent to him and was with the unfortunate 19-year-old). He is the lone 1 who knows what happened. I volition taxable each documents that additionally beryllium the engagement of radical and situations. Many of them. Be patient, and we volition soon spot the prosecutor,” said Mr. Kabaïlis.

According to the begetter of the 19-year-old, helium possesses documents proving determination was practice betwixt the Municipality of Kassandra and the 58-year-old businessman who operated the amusement park.

Intervention by the Appeals Prosecutor

Meanwhile, the caput of the Thessaloniki Appeals Court, Nikos Kallidis, has intervened, requesting that the Polygyros authoritative instrumentality implicit the ongoing investigations related to the amusement parkland and the events that occurred there, concerning the decease of 19-year-old Giannis successful Pefkochori, Halkidiki.

According to information, the probe includes the accident, the operating presumption and licensing of the concern successful erstwhile years, arsenic good arsenic the certificates and certifications for the suitability of the instrumentality successful caller years. Additionally, investigations continue, and each accusation volition beryllium added to the lawsuit file.