The case of Panagiotis Paschalakis, “a model of an active citizen”, refers to the post of the Minister of State Aki Skertzos on the measures taken by the government in recent years to ensure safety at sea.

The minister noted that Mr. Paschalakis, after the loss of his 10-year-old son Michael in 2014 in a marine accident, dedicated a significant part of his life to promoting safety in water sports and activities. With the establishment of the NGO Safe Water Sports, Mr. Paschalakis aims to reduce drownings and improve safety measures in Greek seas.

Even though Greece is a country with a strong connection to the sea, the minister notes, until recently, up to 400 deaths per year were recorded from drownings. The lack of a safety and prevention culture was evident, which led to the need for systematic interventions. In 2018, there were 320 deaths from drowning at sea. In 2025, they were reduced to 197; 123 fewer people died, a reduction of 38%. Total deaths from all causes within the marine element in 2018 were 396, and in 2025, 358. A reduction of nearly 10%.

The post by Akis Skertzos

More safety at sea as well

Panagiotis Paschalakis is a model of active citizenship. A man I deeply admire and treat as a role model.

As a father, he experienced the ultimate tragedy of losing his 10-year-old son Michael in 2014 in a water accident during their summer vacation, which revealed criminal negligence on the part of those involved in terms of adherence to safety measures in water sports.

Since then until today, he has dedicated a significant part of his life, founding the NGO Safe Water Sports, to one goal: to make Greece a safer marine destination in terms of drownings in the aquatic element in the context of water activities.

Few people know that, although Greece is a maritime country, until recently, up to 400 of our fellow human beings were lost every year to drowning in Greek seas. The lack of a culture of safety, education, and prevention, unfortunately, leaves a heavy imprint in this field as well.

It is precisely this safety gap and systematic investment in prevention that P. Paschalakis and safe water sports have identified, pushing the State, since 2015, with the power of civil society, to make it better.

I am truly proud to partner with him since 2019 on this sacred cause. And now more optimistic because since last summer, it seems our joint efforts are paying off and bringing a better result.

In 2018, there were 320 drowning deaths at sea. In 2025, they were down to 197; 123 fewer people died, a reduction of 38%. Total deaths from all causes within the marine element in 2018 were 396, and in 2025, 358. A reduction of nearly 10%.

This improvement did not happen by itself or by chance. It happened because:

In 2020, we precisely defined the busy beaches and the lifeguards they must have.

In 2021, we created the Accident Observatory, which records all incidents at sea and inland waters.

In the same year, the office “Digital Management – Control of Maritime Activities and Safety at Sea” was opened at the headquarters of the Coast Guard to support the increased operational and operational support requirements of the Port Authority Information System (provided by Safe Water Sports), and in particular the digital controls of all professionals (lifeguards, water sports, private yachts, etc.)

In 2022, we required hotels with over 50 beds to employ a trained lifeguard.

In 2020, we included a special educational program on safety at sea in the skills workshops of public schools, and in 2025, we institutionalized the compulsory teaching of swimming to children in 3rd and 4th grade.

From 2022, we secured 15 million euros per year to fund municipalities to hire lifeguards on busy beaches.

In this complex project, many institutions, the Ministries of Shipping, Education, Tourism, Interior, Health, Sports, and Citizen Protection have worked and continue to work and cooperate. And of course, the Coordination DG and the Presidency of the Government.

Are we where we want and should be in terms of safety at sea? The answer is not yet. We have a lot to do, and we have set clear and realistic targets together with Mr. Paschalakis for 2026 as well.

After years of efforts, however, the first positive results are starting to become visible. And this result came in the context of the state working with civil society and a father who turned his trauma into a positive force for life-saving work.

As in road safety, where in 2025 we proved that deaths on the asphalt are not a law of the land, so in the maritime element, Greece, with a plan, patience, and perseverance, is proving that it can change and become safer.