Greek student dies after suffering cardiac arrest at Chalkidiki high school

Emergency response in Pefkochori

On Friday morning, 18 September 2026, a 17-year-old student suffered a cardiac arrest outside his high school in Pefkochori, Chalkidiki. The teenager experienced severe physical distress and collapsed to the ground near the school premises. School personnel reacted immediately upon seeing the student fall and initiated first aid protocols. Teachers alerted the National Emergency Aid Centre (EKAB) while simultaneously contacting Konstantinos Lazaridis, a local private physician and vice president of the organization KIDS SAVE LIVES. Lazaridis and arriving responders determined that the teenager was unresponsive, had stopped breathing, and was in cardiac arrest. An automated external defibrillator deployed at the scene identified a shockable rhythm and delivered an immediate electrical discharge while cardiopulmonary resuscitation began.

Resuscitation across three care stages

Although the initial defibrillation restored the teenager's pulse temporarily, he suffered a second cardiac arrest shortly afterward on the school grounds. Rescuers from EKAB took over emergency care and continued life support measures in coordination with local medical staff. The resuscitation effort extended across three distinct environments: at the school, inside the ambulance, and at the Kassandra Health Center. Responders performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation for approximately 50 minutes in total and administered seven defibrillator shocks. The repeated interventions eventually re-established a heartbeat, allowing medical staff at the health center to prepare the patient for transport.

Critical hospitalization in Thessaloniki

Due to his unstable state, physicians at the Kassandra Health Center ordered an emergency transfer to Hippokratio General Hospital in Thessaloniki. The teenager was admitted in critical condition to the hospital's Coronary Care Unit, where doctors intubated him and placed him on life support. During his initial fall outside the school, the student had struck his head, causing additional trauma. Medical teams in Thessaloniki noted that he developed cerebral edema and suffered epileptic seizures during his stay in the intensive unit. The student had pre-existing health complications before the cardiac arrest occurred. Despite more than 24 hours of intensive care, the 17-year-old died on the morning of Sunday, 20 September 2026.

Official inquiry and school support

Following the confirmation of the student's death, the Greek Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports announced the opening of a formal investigation into the circumstances of the event. The ministry stated that school staff had responded rapidly by performing first aid, alerting medical services, and using a defibrillator until paramedics took charge. The ministry also expressed its deep condolences to the student's family and relatives.

“From tomorrow, Monday, a psychologist and a social worker will be present at the school to support the 17-year-old's classmates, teachers, and the entire school community.”

Representatives from the education ministry are scheduled to attend the school on Monday, 21 September 2026, to monitor the administrative inquiry and assist educators.