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Girl, 12, remains critical after CTO beach drowning that killed her mother

In-Cyprus · 2026-08-26

AI SUMMARY

• What happened: A 12-year-old girl remains in critical condition after a drowning incident at CTO beach in Pyla, which also resulted in the death of her mother. The incident occurred shortly after lifeguard services ended for the day. • Why it matters: The tragedy has raised concerns about beach safety and the adequacy of lifeguard staffing in Larnaca, especially in areas with dangerous conditions like breakwaters. Previous drownings in the same area have highlighted ongoing safety issues. • What to watch next: Authorities are under pressure to implement safety measures and improve lifeguard coverage at local beaches to prevent further incidents, following calls from community organizations and recent tragedies.

Local beachesdeathLarnacaTop News Girl, 12, remains critical after CTO beach drowning that killed her mother Girl, 12, Remains Critical After Cto Beach Drowning That Killed Her Mother Relevant News Girl, 12, remains critical after CTO beach drowning that killed her mother 26 August 2026 Iran and Oman discuss temporary Hormuz corridor as impasse with US drags on 26 August 2026 At least 14 infants killed in Islamabad hospital fire 26 August 2026 Natasa Christoforou 26 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber A 12-year-old girl remains intubated in critical condition at Makarios Hospital, more than a week after her 35-year-old mother, from Romania, drowned off the CTO beach in Pyla on the afternoon of August 15. Police said the girl’s condition is critical. Her 14-year-old sister was discharged from hospital in recent days. The incident happened shortly after 6pm, in front of the family’s father and third child, a boy, who were on the shore. The mother and her two daughters had gone into the sea to swim when other bathers saw them struggling in the waves. Bathers pulled the mother and both girls from the water, and ambulances rushed to the scene. Despite rescuers’ efforts, the mother could not be revived, and the two girls were taken to Makarios Hospital. The incident occurred just 20 minutes after the area’s lifeguard service had ended for the day, prompting a wave of criticism and reviving concerns over inadequate lifeguard tower staffing in Larnaca and other areas. Adding to the questions, the incident appears to have occurred near breakwaters, in an area where the seabed drops sharply. According to philenews sources within the police, witnesses reported seeing the mother and her two children swimming close to the breakwaters. On June 18, two 20-year-old women from Somalia died in the sea off Oroklini, near the CTO beach. According to multiple witness accounts, the two women drowned among the breakwaters in an area with a lifeguard tower that went unstaffed this year due to a lack of interest in the position. Following the deaths of the two women, Larnaca bodies including the Larnaca Tourism Development Company (ETAP) called for measures to strengthen beach safety and prevent similar tragedies. No measures have yet been decided for areas with breakwaters in Larnaca. Read more: Cyprus extends lifeguard hours, reviews short-term contracts after drownings Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Iran and Oman discuss temporary Hormuz corridor as impasse with US drags on At least 14 infants killed in Islamabad hospital fire 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing On this day: American women won the right to vote in 1920 Cyprus payment fraud incidents fall, but losses jump 16% Just 24.6% of Cyprus taxpayers have filed 2025 returns so far Anastasiades rejects Mafia State claims, targets Drousiotis and Authority Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.

Source: In-Cyprus
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