Head injuries — Severe Head Injuries Claim Life of National Guardsman Christos Christaki

head injuries — Severe head injuries have been confirmed as the cause of death for 19-year-old National Guardsman Christos Christaki, who succumbed on Saturday evening following a tragic fall from a car on 18th August.

• The community mourns the loss of a young life filled with promise, as friends and family grapple with the profound impact of this tragic event.

The autopsy, conducted at Nicosia Hospital mortuary, revealed that the young man’s injuries were the result of a fall that occurred late on Monday night in a car park behind the entertainment venues at Mackenzie. Friends had gathered in the area after dining at a nearby restaurant.

Witnesses reported that Christos was lying on the front bonnet of a friend’s moving vehicle when he fell, leading to severe trauma. Following his injuries, he was initially taken to Larnaca General Hospital before being transferred to Nicosia General Hospital due to the critical nature of his condition.

Tragically, after being admitted to intensive care, Christos passed away shortly after 6pm on Saturday at the American Medical Center. The post-mortem was conducted by Dr Angeliki Papetta, head of forensic medicine, alongside forensic pathologist Dr Orthodoxos Orthodoxou, who confirmed the nature of his injuries.

The incident led to immediate police action, resulting in the arrest of a 19-year-old friend of Christos for causing grievous bodily harm and negligent and reckless acts. Although initially treated as a traffic accident, further investigation prompted authorities to take this step. The friend has since been released without charge while investigations by the Larnaca Criminal Investigation Department continue, with the case file set to be forwarded to the Law Office for potential prosecution.

In a show of solidarity, the Aradippou Municipality announced the cancellation of a scheduled festival at St Fanourios Church courtyard, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of Christos. His funeral is set for Tuesday afternoon at 4:30pm at the Church of Apostle Luke, where the family has requested attendees wear white clothing instead of offering condolences or wreaths, encouraging donations to support the family instead.

The community mourns the loss of a young life filled with promise, as friends and family grapple with the profound impact of this tragic event.