Jet ski accident results in injuries to children and adults in Protaras
A serious maritime accident occurred on August 15, 2026, around noon in the Pernera area of Protaras, Cyprus. A rented jet ski, operated by a 17-year-old girl with an 18-year-old female passenger, collided with an inflatable water sports craft being towed by a speedboat. The inflatable was carrying five members of a local Greek Cypriot family, specifically two men aged 48 and 43, along with three children aged 7, 11, and 13.
The collision resulted in serious injuries to a 7-year-old girl, who sustained a skull fracture and brain hemorrhage, and a 48-year-old man, who suffered a pelvic fracture. The child was transported to Makarios Hospital in Nicosia, where she remains in serious but stable condition. The man was admitted to the Famagusta General Hospital. Two other children (aged 11 and 13) were examined medically and discharged. The 17-year-old operator was also taken to the hospital for treatment.
Authorities, including the Famagusta Criminal Investigation Department and the Paralimni Police Station, have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident. Key questions remain regarding the legality of the rental agreement and whether the underage operator met the necessary requirements to handle the watercraft under Cypriot navigation laws.