Moments of suspense unfolded on Saturday night (June 27) on a beach in Gouves, Crete, when a 30-year-old German tourist was swept away by strong waves while swimming with his partner.

According to creta24.gr, the young man entered the water despite the fact that a red flag was flying on the beach, which prohibits swimming due to particularly dangerous conditions. It should be noted that the lifeguard had left the beach a short time earlier.

The 30-year-old was found struggling against the waves as he began to be swept away, desperately calling for help, while his partner was a short distance away but unable to reach him. The same reports indicate that two swimmers, one Greek and one Russian, rushed to help from the very beginning, risking their own lives; however, the waves prevented them from getting close to the 30-year-old, and they were limited to encouraging him while trying to find a way to reach him safely.

In fact, as an eyewitness reported to creta24.gr, despite the fact that there were quite a few people on the beach, very few took action: “They saw a man drowning, and almost no one did anything. I didn’t know who to turn to.”

After about 20 minutes of frantic effort, a fellow countryman of the 30-year-old dove into the sea, bringing a rope and a life jacket with him. With the help of the Greek man and the Russian man who were already at the scene, they managed to pull the German man ashore.

He was immediately given first aid on the beach, and an EKAB ambulance transported him to Venizelio Hospital.