File photo.
A 5-year-old boy was rescued after being blown out to sea on an inflatable mattress off the northern Aegean island of Limnos amid strong winds, authorities said.
The child drifted away while floating on the inflatable, prompting an immediate search by the Greek Coast Guard and volunteers. He was eventually located and rescued by a lifeguard boat before being brought safely ashore. He was reported to be in good health.
The Coast Guard in Myrina, the capital of Limnos, arrested the boy’s two 37-year-old Romanian guardians on suspicion of endangering a minor. An investigation is underway.
Following the incident, Maritime Affairs Minister Vasilis Kikilias urged the public in a social media post to follow Coast Guard safety instructions, warning of the dangers posed by inflatable water toys and stand-up paddleboards, particularly when children are at sea.
