A major search-and-rescue operation is continuing off the Greek island of Symi after a group of German tourists were swept away from their yacht while swimming, leaving one man still missing.<\/h3>\n
Seven of the eight German nationals have been rescued and are reported to be in good health after spending hours in the water in the southern Aegean Sea.<\/p>\n
According to Greek authorities, the group\u2014four men and four women\u2014had entered the sea for a swim after leaving their yacht unattended. Reports indicate the vessel was not properly secured before the group entered the water, allowing it to drift away in the currents.<\/p>\n
Separated from their yacht, some members of the group managed to swim to shore, while others remained stranded in the water for several hours.<\/p>\n The first two people rescued, a man and a woman, reached the Panormitis area of Symi. Around midnight on Sunday, another woman was found after swimming ashore and was picked up by a fishing boat.<\/p>\n Shortly after 1:20 a.m., a Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessel rescued four more people, bringing the total number of survivors to seven.<\/p>\n A large-scale search-and-rescue operation was launched involving Coast Guard patrol boats and an Air Force helicopter. The search resumed on Monday with one Coast Guard vessel and an Air Force helicopter continuing to scour the area for the remaining missing man.<\/p>\n According to state broadcaster ERT, difficult weather conditions, including strong winds and rough seas, have complicated the search efforts.<\/p>\n The incident has sparked debate on Greek social media, where some users argued that tourists who ignore basic boating safety procedures should bear the cost of rescue operations. However, Greek authorities have not commented on whether any charges or penalties will be imposed.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/symigermans.webp)
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