Greece: Captain Killed, Tourists Injured in Mock Pirate Ship Accident

By Larry Habegger and Laurie Weed | Permalink |

No Comments | October 9th, 2012 | Trackback

The replica cannon on a mock pirate ship exploded during a tour Oct. 6, killing the boat’s captain and injuring five tourists on board. The boat was ferrying 26 passengers around the island of Kos in the southern Aegean Sea when the mishap occurred. It was not clear how the accident happened, but coast guard officials stated that the cannon had been loaded with gunpowder in an amount similar to that used in fireworks. None of the tourists’ injuries were life-threatening, and a relative of the captain managed to steer the vessel safely back to shore. While accidents are not common on these kinds of tours, travelers should remember that even staged gunplay is inherently risky, and exercise good judgment when deciding whether to participate.