Greece’s Armed Forces declared a three-day national mourning period on Wednesday after a 19-year-old professional soldier was killed during a scheduled grenade-training exercise on the island of Rhodes, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said.
The soldier died at the Afantou firing range. A 39-year-old sergeant participating in the exercise was seriously injured, including the loss of an upper limb.
Both men were taken to Rhodes General Hospital, where the younger soldier was pronounced dead. The sergeant was initially in critical condition and intubated, but doctors later reported his condition had stabilized before he was transferred to the ICU of Athens’ 401 Military Hospital.
The Hellenic General Staff extended condolences to the soldier’s family. The incident is under investigation.