Post date: Mar 19, 2012 3:29:4 PM
PIRAEUS, GREECE (MARCH 19, 2012) (REUTERS) - A middle-aged man on Monday (March 19) drove his car into the sea at Athens's main commercial port of Piraeus, killing himself. Coastguard divers retrieved the driver's body from the waters after carrying out a rescue operation.
A man dies after driving his car into the waters of Athen's main commercial port. Police say his death may have been related to economic difficulties as the man had massive unpaid debts.
Witnesses said they noticed the man, in a black Mercedes, which had been parked near the dock since early in the morning, suddenly rev his engine and drive off the dock and into the sea.
"He started driving around the dock in circles, probably to gain speed, and drove towards the dock and fell in. It's about seven to eight meters deep where he fell. He had all his front windows open. I yelled at him, what are you doing, close your windows. We tried to do something, but unfortunately after a moment the car sank," said a dockworker who witnessed the incident.
The car's front windshield was smashed and the windows were open.
Authorities were investigating the causes behind the man's death, but police sources said they believe the man may have acted due to financial problems. Police said he was a businessman with an importing company and had unpaid debts of close to two million euros.
He had three children.
Incidents of people threatening or attempting to harm themselves due to financial difficulties have erupted in the last years in the country as the financial crisis takes its toll on the public.