Greek authorities are in shock as they investigate the tragic deaths of two Irish teenagers on the Aegean island of Ios. The incident, likened to an ancient Greek tragedy by police, has sent ripples of grief throughout Ireland as friends and family of the two 18-year-olds pay tribute.
Andrew O’Donnell and Max Wall, classmates at St Michael’s College in Dublin, were part of a 69-strong group celebrating their school graduation with a trip to the Cycladic isle. Devastatingly, both teens passed away hours apart in separate areas of Ios.
Principal Tim Kelleher of St Michael’s College described the tragic loss to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland: “We’re heartbroken. We have a very tight-knit community and these are two fantastic young men with their lives ahead of them. Bright, sporting, academic men… who were looking forward to this trip for months on end.”
As their bodies are transferred to the port city of Piraeus near Athens for autopsies, let us all remember Andrew and Max for their vibrant personalities, rather than their untimely demise.
The regional police directorate of the south Aegean handling the tragedy of two young men spoke out, expecting autopsies to reveal what happened.
“O’ Donnell was found on a path between the port and Ios town, appearing as if he had fallen,” said Brigadier Thanos Loukas, commander of the police directorate. “Wall was discovered very close to his lodging; he had apparently been suffering from heart problems, but the truth will come out in the postmortem.”
Witnesses who were with Wall at the time described him becoming distressingly overwhelmed upon hearing news of his friend’s disappearance. Earlier that Saturday night, friends had reported O’Donnell missing, setting off a police search.
Media reports suggest the two young men had been partying heavily before O’Donnell went out for a walk back to his rented room as night fell. Now, in an aftermath resembling an ancient Greek tragedy, the whole island is stunned.
The unidentified bodies were discovered near rocks along a pathway – reportedly leaving school leavers ‘absolutely traumatised’.
Ireland’s Minister for further and higher education, Simon Harris, expressed his devastation at the news, taking to Twitter to offer his condolences to friends and family of the victims as well as fellow students who are now facing grief and shock following their exams. Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance and has deployed a team member to the island in addition to family members who have flown in.
Once a hippy retreat, Ios has become a popular destination among young revellers, attracting large numbers from Ireland over recent years. However, this tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and importance of cherishing each moment we have.
