A teenager who died in an accident while on holiday may have been electrocuted by faulty shower equipment, Greek authorities have suggested. Alex McKee, a 17-year-old student from Ireland, passed away last Sunday at a residential property on the Greek island of Kimolos, which is located in the Greek region of Aegean.
Cork Beo reports that Alex had been with his family on the island, where his mother is from, when the tragic accident occurred.
A doctor based in Kimolos, Agapitos Xanthis, told how Alex’s mother also felt an electrical sensation while she was showering. He said that “we are lucky there weren’t two deaths as a result of electrocution.”
Alex’s body was taken to the Piraeus Forensic Medical Service on the Greek mainland for a post-mortem that confirmed the cause of death as electrocution. The Guardian reports that a Greek police inquiry is now focusing on the building’s water heater, aiming to locate a possible fault in the wiring. An officer told the publication that the home’s fusebox may have had an issue with a safety valve.
Alex was part of an award-winning Irish Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition project, which gained national acclaim earlier this year. Alex and two classmates developed ‘Bumblebee,’ a communication system for people with nonverbal autism. The project won first place in its category, as well as a Special Award from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office.
Cork North TD Colm Burke, who met Alex just months ago during the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, told Cork Beo how the tragic death of such a bright and talented young man has devastated the community.
“It’s extremely sad to hear that someone so young has died so tragically,” he said, “He was a really talented young person with his whole life and huge career ahead of him. Earlier this year, he put a huge effort into getting to that stage in the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition and was awarded for his efforts. It is devastating news for his family, the community and his school colleagues.”
Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs is assisting following the tragedy. A spokesperson for the Department said: “The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of this case and is providing consular assistance. As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases.”