UK Ambassador: Greece Is A Safe Country

The scene of the crime. 19-year-old tourist, Tyrell Matthew-Burton, was stabbed outside a nightclub in Malia, Crete.
Photo: prismanews.gr

“Greece is a friendly, hospitable and safe country,” the UK’s ambassador to Greece John Kittmer said when he recently visited Crete and met with the family of a 19-year-old tourist who lost his life during a brawl between Britons in the holiday resort of Malia last week.

Mr. Kittmer met the family of Tyrell Matthews-Burton and expressed to them his condolences for the death of their son.

“The death of a young man in such circumstances is a great tragedy, which grieves us all,” he said in a written statement to the press.

The tourist resort of Malia on Crete is known as an “anything goes” destination and attracts young British tourists every summer. Over the past years, during their holidays, some Britons get into trouble due to excessive drinking.

The ambassador said that two months ago, he launched the embassy’s annual campaign in all destinations of choice in the British youth market – i.e. Zakynthos, Crete, Corfu, Rhodes and Kos.

“Despite this tragic incident, the campaign message remains valid. We are saying to young tourists: you can have a good time and enjoy yourselves, while keeping safe and acting responsibly. All of us have to respect local laws and customs,” Mr. Kittmer said.

His statement added that last year, 715 incidents of various types were reported to our consulates in Greece, in comparison to the 2 million British tourists who visited the country.

According to reports, a 19-year-old Briton has been accused of stabbing to death Tyrell Matthews-Burton and was due to face a magistrate on Monday, 29 July.