Regarding the events that took place at the amusement park in Pefkochori, where 19-year-old Giannis lost his life, the operator of the fatal ride spoke, who is accused of manslaughter by negligence.
“I was shocked. It’s a very difficult thing. My condolences to the parents of the child. I was scared because I saw something like this for the first time in my life… I feel guilty as well. The child unfairly left this life. It’s not my fault, but again, condolences to the parents,” said the operator speaking to Mega.
As he mentioned, he was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the tragedy.
“I just went to earn my daily wage, to raise my child. There were some blue and yellow chairs; only the pink ones were working, and that day the kids sat on the blue ones. He told me to only put people in the pink ones, so I changed the kids’ chairs. The speed was normal. I was told it was between 50 and 60 at most. When his mom said ‘slower’, I went to lower it and saw the child in the air,” he said.
As he reported, “that night I said I would make it a little stronger, not all the way.”
According to the 21-year-old operator, he does not know what condition the machines were in: “If I had paid attention, I wouldn’t have gotten on the machines at all. I didn’t know anything.”
As the operator reveals, a colleague of the park’s owner told him to leave to avoid being lynched: “He told me to leave because they would lynch me. I went behind the park, drank some water, and calmed down. I returned and he told me to go home so nobody would see me. It was said by the kid who has worked with him for years (i.e., the owner). I went home and at that moment they told me to pack my things and take me to Kilkis and to hide for 48 hours.”
Triple Prosecutorial Investigation into the Accident
Since morning, a triple prosecutorial investigation has been underway regarding the accident, with the father of the victim presenting a series of new documents concerning the operational status of the business in Pefkochori and the amusement park owner appointing Alex Koutouzis for his defense.
The first investigation pertains to the accident, the second to the operational status of the amusement park, and the third to the certifications and approvals received to operate both this year and in previous years, with the head of the Thessaloniki Appeals Prosecutor’s Office requesting that the primary court prosecutor of Polygyros personally handle the three specific criminal investigations.
With a backpack full of documents and accompanied by his son, who survived that fateful night, the father of 19-year-old Giannis arrives at the Polygyros courthouse and enters the prosecutor’s office.
Through the documents he provides, the father of the 19-year-old argues that the fatal ride was unsuitable and that the amusement park operated with responsible statements instead of the required certifications.
Mega revealed the responsible statement signed by an engineer for the ride that turned into a death trap.
It was signed on May 3, 2024, and states that all necessary measures for the safe operation of the amusement park and its rides have been taken, among which is the crazy dance. The fatal ride that cost 19-year-old Giannis his life.
The initial findings indicated that it was a cheap copy of the Italian-made crazy dance.
The investigations into the accident in Pefkochori are ongoing, with the father of 19-year-old Giannis appearing determined, once again, to move heaven and earth until those responsible for the death of his child face the consequences of their actions.
What the Owner’s Side Claims
The owner of the amusement park in Pefkochori claims through his lawyer that the business was operating legally.
“Mr. accused, who is at the disposal of justice at any time, is 58 years old, has a clean criminal record, is the father of two minor children, a boy and a girl, and has never had any involvement in any illegal act. He was practicing his profession legally for 36 consecutive years until the day of the accident,” stated Alex Koutouzis, lawyer for the amusement park owner.