A riot police officer who sustained severe injuries from a naval flare that hit him in the thigh during clashes with hooligans on Dec. 7, outside the Melina Mercouri indoor arena in the near-Piraeus Renti district, passed away on Wednesday. The 31-year-old officer had been hospitalized and intubated in an ICU since the incident.
According to the latest medical bulletin issued by the Nikaia State Hospital five days ago, physicians were waiting for man’s condition to stabilize before attempting neurological function tests immediately after the Christmas holidays. The police officer, however, did not recover and succumbed to his severe injuries.
He was hit with a highly incendiary distress flare fired by a flare gun of the type stored aboard vessels, during clashes with hooligans at a men’s volleyball match between Olympiakos Piraeus and Panathinaikos Athens.
Physicians had amputated his leg as part of efforts to save him.
An 18-year-old man has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault and attempted homicide in the case, with prosecutors now expected to upgrade the felony indictment.
