Latest news with #tourist


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
British tourist killed and their partner is seriously ill after falling from jet ski they were riding in the sea off Albania
A British tourist has died while another is in critical condition after jet-skiing in Albania. The 34-year-old man was confirmed dead by coastguards, who believe he lost control of the machine and came off his water scooter. A 31-year-old woman was also seriously injured and remains in critical condition in hospital. The holidaymakers were testing 'maneuvers' near the Kavaja Rock area in Durres when they fell into the water yesterday morning, it was reported in local media. An investigation has been launched to uncover the circumstances of the tragic accident. The pair are yet to be publicly identified but have had their initials shared by the police - the man was S.O. and the woman was V.B. The police said: 'Around 11:15, on 01.06.2025, the Port Durres Border Police services were notified that, in the area opposite the Kavaja Rock, two citizens who were sailing on a Jet Ski, are suspected of having lost control of the vessel during maneuvers and fallen into the water. 'The Border Police Services, after receiving the notification, immediately went by watercraft to assist the two citizens who had fallen into the water, transporting them to the port, with the aim of transporting them to the hospital. 'Preliminary verifications by the hospital emergency team, which was waiting at the port, resulted in one of the citizens sailing on the Jet Ski, specifically citizen SO, 34 years old, resident in England, having lost his life, while citizen VB, 31 years old, resident in England, was immediately transported to the hospital in serious condition. 'A special investigative group was immediately established and, under the direction of the Prosecutor's Office, work continues to clarify the circumstances and legally document the case.' However, several outlets had reported at the time the pair were discovered 'during a random patrol' with the vehicle's engine turned off. They added that that it was possible to pair were suffering from hypothermia after they had been at sea for an unknown number of hours, according to information from the port. Another site has reported that the couple were from Ghana but lived in England. The horrifying incident comes only weeks after another British tourist ran in to trouble on a jet ski while in Thailand. Vincent Zammitt, 26, from London, was arrested and fined for allegedly sinking a jet ski off the coast of Phuketin April after he rented the machine for a 30-minute ride. He said he was allowed to set sail into the idyllic turquoise waters, despite the jet ski not undergoing maintenance checks. The holidaymaker was carving up water when the jet ski's warning lights reportedly went off 15 minutes into the ride. The alarmed holidaymaker steered the watercraft back to shore but it capsized, leaving him stranded at sea in shark-infested waters. A rescue team was called to the scene after he failed to return to the beach after 30 minutes. Footage shows volunteers arriving on jet skis to save Mr Zammitt, seen wearing a life vest as he sat on the overturned machine. But Mr Zammitt is convinced that the rental company set him up with a dodgy jet ski to fleece him - and that the police were in on it too. Phuket is among Thailand's most popular tourist destinations known for its stunning beaches and vibrant nightlife. However, it is also a notorious enclave of criminal activity, with greedy locals taking advantage of naive visitors. Jet ski scams have become a notorious money spinner for locals, with rental companies working in cahoots with a few apparently corrupt police to extort vast sums from holiday makers for non-existent damage to the machines.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
I fell for a classic tourist scam in Greece — and I didn't realize until it was too late
It happened in the blink of an eye — and I never even saw him touch my phone. I was sitting at an outdoor restaurant in Athens on a sweltering July afternoon. My husband had just gotten up to go the bathroom, so I was alone at the table. A man approached the table with a tourist map in hand, gesturing and mumbling something about... what? Possibly a tour? Who knows. He was persistent and aggressive, and he kept pointing to the map, trying to get my attention. I knew I didn't want any part of it — whatever it was — and kept trying to wave him away. But I knew something was off. He was wearing long sleeves on an absolutely scorching day, and that struck me as odd — but not alarming enough to make a scene. When he finally wandered off, I felt a wave of relief that my bag with my passport was still tucked under my arms safely in my lap. But then it hit me: my iPhone had been sitting right on the table — and now it was gone. He'd used the map as a distraction and cover, likely sweeping my phone underneath while I was focused on keeping my valuables close. By the time I realized what had happened, he had disappeared into the crowd. I've traveled extensively, and I like to think I'm pretty cautious, but this scam worked because it played on a simple moment of distraction. And according to local authorities, it's incredibly common, especially in tourist-heavy cities. Since then, I've completely changed how I carry my phone while traveling. I now rely on a wearable phone lanyard that keeps my device physically attached to me at all times. And I affix AirTags to just about everything when I travel — from my passport to my luggage, and even my kids. If you're traveling this summer, especially in busy European cities, take my advice: keep your phone off the table, wear your bag crossbody-style, and if someone seems unusually eager to show you a map... trust your gut and guard your gear.

News.com.au
11 hours ago
- General
- News.com.au
Tourist damages two of China's terracotta warriors
A tourist climbed over a fence and jumped into a section of the world-famous display of China's Terracotta Army, damaging two ancient clay warriors, authorities said Saturday. The 30-year-old was visiting the museum housing the Terracotta Army in the city of Xi'an on Friday when he 'climbed over the guardrail and the protective net and jumped', public security officials said in a statement. The man was found to 'suffer from mental illness' and the case is under investigation. He 'pushed and pulled' the clay warriors and two were 'damaged to varying degrees', the statement said. He was 'controlled' by security personnel. The pit he jumped into is up to 5.4 metres deep, according to the museum's website. Built around 209 BC to stand guard over the tomb of the first emperor, the 8,000-strong Terracotta Army is one of China's most important archaeological discoveries and considered a symbol of ancient Chinese artistic and military sophistication. A major tourist attraction in Xi'an, capital of the northern province of Shaanxi, it has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1987. A worker at the museum told AFP on Saturday that the display was open as usual.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
I fell for a classic tourist scam in Greece — and I didn't realize it until it was too late
It happened in the blink of an eye — and I never even saw him touch my phone. I was sitting at an outdoor restaurant in Athens on a sweltering July afternoon. My husband had just gotten up to go the bathroom, so I was alone at the table. A man approached the table with a tourist map in hand, gesturing and mumbling something about... what? Possibly a tour? Who knows. He was persistent and aggressive, and he kept pointing to the map, trying to get my attention. I knew I didn't want any part of it — whatever it was — and kept trying to wave him away. But I knew something was off. He was wearing long sleeves on an absolutely scorching day, and that struck me as odd — but not alarming enough to make a scene. When he finally wandered off, I felt a wave of relief that my bag with my passport was still tucked under my arms safely in my lap. But then it hit me: my iPhone had been sitting right on the table — and now it was gone. He'd used the map as a distraction and cover, likely sweeping my phone underneath while I was focused on keeping my valuables close. By the time I realized what had happened, he had disappeared into the crowd. I've traveled extensively, and I like to think I'm pretty cautious, but this scam worked because it played on a simple moment of distraction. And according to local authorities, it's incredibly common, especially in tourist-heavy cities. Since then, I've completely changed how I carry my phone while traveling. I now rely on a wearable phone lanyard that keeps my device physically attached to me at all times. And I affix AirTags to just about everything when I travel — from my passport to my luggage, and even my kids. If you're traveling this summer, especially in busy European cities, take my advice: keep your phone off the table, wear your bag crossbody-style, and if someone seems unusually eager to show you a map... trust your gut and guard your gear.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
I fell for a classic tourist scam in Greece — and I didn't realize it until it was too late
It happened in the blink of an eye — and I never even saw him touch my phone. I was sitting at an outdoor restaurant in Athens on a sweltering July afternoon. My husband had just gotten up to go the bathroom, so I was alone at the table. A man approached the table with a tourist map in hand, gesturing and mumbling something about... what? Possibly a tour? Who knows. He was persistent and aggressive, and he kept pointing to the map, trying to get my attention. I knew I didn't want any part of it — whatever it was — and kept trying to wave him away. But I knew something was off. He was wearing long sleeves on an absolutely scorching day, and that struck me as odd — but not alarming enough to make a scene. When he finally wandered off, I felt a wave of relief that my bag with my passport was still tucked under my arms safely in my lap. But then it hit me: my iPhone had been sitting right on the table — and now it was gone. He'd used the map as a distraction and cover, likely sweeping my phone underneath while I was focused on keeping my valuables close. By the time I realized what had happened, he had disappeared into the crowd. I've traveled extensively, and I like to think I'm pretty cautious, but this scam worked because it played on a simple moment of distraction. And according to local authorities, it's incredibly common, especially in tourist-heavy cities. Since then, I've completely changed how I carry my phone while traveling. I now rely on a wearable phone lanyard that keeps my device physically attached to me at all times. And I affix AirTags to just about everything when I travel — from my passport to my luggage, and even my kids. If you're traveling this summer, especially in busy European cities, take my advice: keep your phone off the table, wear your bag crossbody-style, and if someone seems unusually eager to show you a map... trust your gut and guard your gear.