Prominent Cypriot businessman and rally champion Dimis Mavropoulos dies in boating accident

On Saturday, August 29, 2026, 76-year-old businessman and rally champion Dimis Mavropoulos died after his boat capsized off Cape Greco, Cyprus, amid extreme weather conditions. The incident occurred during a search and rescue operation involving multiple vessels. While five other people were rescued from three boats, Mavropoulos was found unconscious by divers and later pronounced dead at the hospital. His daughter and partner, who were on the same boat, were injured and are currently receiving medical treatment.

Authorities indicated that the two women managed to jump into the sea while rescue helicopters were overhead, but it is believed that Mavropoulos became trapped in the wreckage of the vessel. A veteran of the Cypriot motorsport scene, Mavropoulos was born in 1949 and achieved significant success in rallying, including winning the Cypriot Championship in 1986, 1988, and 1990. Beyond his athletic career, he was a well-known public figure in Limassol and the founder of the Cyprus Historic and Classic Motor Museum.

Rescue teams, including the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC), conducted a large-scale operation in the area to assist those involved. Investigations into the exact circumstances surrounding the capsizing of the boats during the severe storm are ongoing.