"Many tourists underestimate the effort associated with walking in direct sunlight," says Athens cardiologist Thomas Giannoulis. "The temperature can reach up to 37 degrees Celsius in the shade and can easily rise to 60 degrees in the sun."
This increases the risk of dehydration and heatstroke. “And the risk increases the older the person is,” Gianoulis says.
Those who have died or gone missing are all tourists in the age group of 55 to 80. The first was a 67-year-old British journalist who went missing off the Turkish coast off Simi in early June and whose body was found a few days later.
Local officials said he had lost his way and fallen at a place where it was difficult for search teams to locate him.
Two others died on Crete.
On Mathraki, a small island west of Corsica, a 55-year-old US citizen died while out walking. And in Samos, near the Turkish coast, the body of a 74-year-old Dutch man was found while he was out for a walk alone.
In the Cyclades, an American citizen has been missing for more than a week on Amorgos after going on a walk. And two elderly French women are missing after taking a walk in Cicino last week.
According to Greek press reports, some of the victims passed out shortly after eating lunch and drinking wine. Others lacked maps or smartphones or were in remote areas with no signal.
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This increases the risk of dehydration and heatstroke. “And the risk increases the older the person is,” Gianoulis says.
Those who have died or gone missing are all tourists in the age group of 55 to 80. The first was a 67-year-old British journalist who went missing off the Turkish coast off Simi in early June and whose body was found a few days later.
Local officials said he had lost his way and fallen at a place where it was difficult for search teams to locate him.
Two others died on Crete.
On Mathraki, a small island west of Corsica, a 55-year-old US citizen died while out walking. And in Samos, near the Turkish coast, the body of a 74-year-old Dutch man was found while he was out for a walk alone.
In the Cyclades, an American citizen has been missing for more than a week on Amorgos after going on a walk. And two elderly French women are missing after taking a walk in Cicino last week.
According to Greek press reports, some of the victims passed out shortly after eating lunch and drinking wine. Others lacked maps or smartphones or were in remote areas with no signal.
svn
