Boat operator jailed over fatal parasailing tragedy that killed two British teens in Greece Greek City Times

A Greek boat operator has been sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of safety violations that led to the deaths of two British teenagers during a parasailing accident in 2020.

Nikos Mallios, 57, was convicted by the Misdemeanour Court of Rhodes over failings that resulted in the deaths of 15-year-old Jessica Hayes and her cousin, 13-year-old Mikey Connelly.

Fatal incident off Rhodes

The tragedy occurred in October 2020 near Lindos on the island of Rhodes, when the teenagers were parasailing during worsening weather conditions.

According to court proceedings, the rope tethering the parasail to the speedboat detached mid-flight. As the boat attempted to recover the parasail, a sudden gust of wind carried the teenagers toward rocky coastline, where they crashed.

Mikey’s older brother, who was also on the parasail, survived but suffered critical injuries and spent two weeks in a coma.

Court ruling and sentence

Mallios was found guilty of breaching health and safety regulations, with the court concluding that he had failed to ensure safe operating conditions during the excursion.

He was handed a four-year prison sentence but was released pending appeal after indicating he would challenge the verdict.

Further legal proceedings are expected in October, when he will face more serious charges, including manslaughter by negligence and grievous bodily harm, at a higher court in Kos.

Family reacts: “First step to justice”

Jessica’s father, Tony Hayes, described the conviction as a “first step on the journey to justice,” while acknowledging that no sentence could undo the loss.

“It’s a positive step in the right direction,” he said. “But it doesn’t change the fact that Jess and Mikey are not here. Our lives have been ruined.”

The family’s lawyer, George Moschos, stated that the sentence reflects the seriousness of the operator’s failings.

Operator apologises but denies wrongdoing

During the trial, Mallios issued an apology to the families but denied responsibility for the incident.

He rejected claims that he violated safety rules, including allegations that he operated in unsafe weather, allowed triple-seat parasailing, and carried underage participants—practices that are restricted under Greek regulations.

Ongoing legal battle

The case is expected to continue in the coming months as prosecutors pursue more severe charges. The outcome could lead to a significantly longer sentence if Mallios is found guilty at the higher court.

The tragedy has renewed scrutiny over safety standards in Greece’s seasonal watersports industry, particularly in popular tourist destinations.