{"id":418347,"date":"2026-01-17T04:32:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T04:32:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/418347\/"},"modified":"2026-01-17T04:32:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T04:32:14","slug":"greek-tourist-ioannis-vidiniotis-flooded-with-support-after-tragic-accident-at-cottesloe-beach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/418347\/","title":{"rendered":"Greek tourist Ioannis Vidiniotis flooded with support after tragic accident at Cottesloe Beach"},"content":{"rendered":"

A young Greek tourist has been flooded with donations and support after a tragic accident at Perth’s most iconic beach left him with life-changing injuries.<\/p>\n

Ioannis Vidiniotis had only been in Western Australia’s capital for two days when his cousin Aristea Kazantzidou took him to Cottesloe Beach for a coffee and a swim.<\/p>\n

It was New Year’s Eve, and the Indian Ocean was clear and calm on a windless Perth day.<\/p>\n

Ioannis \u2014 on his first trip to Australia \u2014 was relieved to find a shark net, and could not wait to jump in the water.<\/p>\n

“It looked like a swimming pool,” his cousin Aristea recalled.<\/p>\n

“I thought Cottesloe was the safest place to take someone who has just stepped off a plane that’s never been to Australia.”\"Ioannis<\/p>\n

Ioannis Vidiniotis pictured with his cousin Aristea Kazantzidou. (Supplied)<\/p>\n

Experienced swimmer<\/p>\n

But shortly after diving in, Ioannis was floating and unconscious.<\/p>\n

“He is an experienced swimmer, and I don’t believe he knew that he would strike a sand bank,” Aristea said.<\/p>\n

The young Athenian had hit his head on the sand bank, breaking his collarbone and fracturing his spine.<\/p>\n

\"Ioannis<\/p>\n

Doctors say his chances of walking again are slim.\u00a0 (Supplied)<\/p>\n

Aristea gave her cousin CPR and was helped by an anaesthetist named Lloyd, who happened to be there at the time.<\/p>\n

“We put him on his back, and Lloyd was holding his head the whole time,” Aristea said.<\/p>\n

“My whole family is really thankful Lloyd was there.”<\/p>\n

Nearly $250,000 raised<\/p>\n

Ioannis underwent a five-hour emergency spinal surgery and remains in ICU.<\/p>\n

\"Ioannis<\/p>\n

Ioannis Vidiniotis pictured before the accident with his cousin Elle (Aristea’s sister) and uncle and aunty, Dimitri and Effie. (Supplied)<\/p>\n

Medical specialists have advised the family that his chance of walking again was less than 5 per cent.<\/p>\n

The ABC understands that while in hospital Ioannis was visited by a young Perth man who defied the odds after a similar accident at another Perth beach and eventually walked again.<\/p>\n

As of Friday, a gofundme page<\/a> set up by the Hellenic Community of Western Australia had raised more than $250,000 to help with the ongoing costs of his care and rehabilitation.<\/p>\n

Ioannis’s mother was expected to arrive from Greece on Sunday to visit him in hospital.<\/p>\n

Sandbank warning<\/p>\n

Aristea said her family wanted people to be aware of the dangers of sandbanks.<\/p>\n

“This is a stark reminder that Perth’s beaches, no matter how calm they appear, can be treacherous,” she said.<\/p>\n

“We want people to enjoy our coastline, but also to understand how quickly things can go wrong.”<\/p>\n

Town of Cottesloe chief executive Mark Newman said he believed the beach had adequate signage warning about the dangers of the ocean.<\/p>\n

“The Cottesloe foreshore extends for 4 kilometres, within which we have approximately 30 entrance points,” he said.<\/p>\n

“We believe the beach is adequately signed, given the very passive nature of the beach.<\/p>\n

“Like others, we feel it to be an unfortunate and sad event and would encourage all beach users to take care in the water.”<\/p>\n

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