Two Irish teenagers from the same school have died in separate tragic incidents while on holiday on the Greek island of Ios, with local authorities saying one fell off a cliff and the other collapsed at a ferry port.
They are the second and third Irish nationals to die while holidaying in Greece within a week, sparking an urgent investigation by local authorities.
The twin tragedy first struck on Sunday when Andrew O’Donnell, 18, was out with a team of schoolmates from St Michael’s College.
Some time after midnight he decided to return to his hotel room alone.
‘He was trickling, his friends have testified,’ police spokesman Konstantine Dimoglidou said. ‘He must have taken a wrong path home, stumbling over a cliff.’
Two Irish teenagers from the same school have died in separate tragic incidents while on holiday on the Greek island of Ios (pictured, file photo), with local authorities saying one fell off a cliff and the other collapsed at a ferry port
‘His body, found the next day and after a search alert was called by his friends and father who could not locate him for hours. He was taken to a nearby state clinic where doctors found the back of his head injured from the fall.’
No sooner had that tragedy struck, one of O’Donnell’s classmates, Max Wall, collapsed while waiting for a ferry at the island’s port, the next day, to return to the Greek capital of Athens.
‘He just collapsed and died,’ Dimoglidou said. ‘He too was taken to the local hospital and his death recorded.’
Both bodies have been transferred from to the port city of Piraeaus for twin autopsies to be performed to determine the exact cause of their deaths.
‘Blood samples and tissues will be examined to establish the causes of their deaths.’
Speaking to MailOnline on Monday, a senior police spokesman said it was a ‘sad occurrence.’ He added an investigation has been launched ‘to probe the causes of the sudden deaths.’
O’Donnell and Wall were among a party of some 20 classmates who arrived in Greece last week to celebrate their high school graduation.
Tributes have poured in for the two classmates.
St Michael’s College said it had been a day of ‘immense sadness’.
O’Donnell, the school said, was a ‘popular classmate and friend’ and was a member of its football team.
‘He was kind to those around him, honest in all of his endeavours, and a great brother to Rory (Transition Year). Andrew will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him,’ it said in a statement on its website.
‘Our thoughts are with Andrew’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time.
Wall, it continued, ‘was a constant source of positivity, encouragement and fun for all of those around him. He was extremely popular with staff and students alike, and a fantastic supporter of our teams during the various cup campaigns.
‘Our thoughts are with Max’s family at this awful time and with his friends who have experienced such shocking loss over the last 24 hours.’
O’Donnell and Wall were among a party of some 20 classmates who arrived in Greece last week to celebrate their high school graduation on the island of Ios
‘Our school staff are available to speak with and assist any students who would like to connect over the coming days and weeks,’ the school added.
Under each update on its website, the school wrote and Irish message of condolence: ‘Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam’, meaning ‘may his holy soul be on the right side of God’.
Ireland’s education minister said the news was ‘devastating’. Simon Harris said his thoughts were with ‘all leaving cert students abroad in Greece who were enjoying holidays after exams and are now encountering such shock and pain and grief’.
The Foreign Affair office said it was aware of the cases and providing consular assistance.
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