EAC burn victim loses fight for life

An electric utility worker has succumbed to his injuries at a Greek hospital, where he was being treated for severe burns following a substation accident in Cyprus last month.

According to local media, 48-year-old network technician Kyriacos Argyrou succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday in a medical facility in Athens, where he was flown for specialized treatment to a facility last month in the Greek capital.

Argyrou and another colleague at Cyprus Electricity Authority both suffered severe burns following an accident at a utility substation on May 20 in Latchia, a southern suburb of Nicosia.

Local media speculated that the two EAC employees came in contact with electric wires inside the substation, resulting in an explosion and their clothes subsequently catching fire.

The two maintenance workers were initially rushed to the Emergency Room at Nicosia General Hospital with life-threatening injuries, where they underwent emergency surgery. They were later transported overseas for treatment.

Argyrou was said to have suffered burns to 95% of his body, while his 40-year-old co-worker, who was flown to Leipzig in Germany, suffered 70%.

An official statement on Tuesday said it was “an extremely difficult day for the EAC family” to announce that Argyrou lost the fight to life after the tragic incident.

The EAC statement also said flags on EAC buildings will fly at half mast until the day of the funeral, adding that the organization would stand in support for the family of their fallen colleague.

Labour and police officials are still investigating the incident and the exact factors that caused the explosion.