Pop legend Giorgos Mazonakis died suddenly on Wednesday, September 9, at the age of 54 after suffering a cardiac arrest. The Greek star, whose chart toppers include Summer in Greece, Terma, De Goustaro, and Dianikterevo, was at a private medical practice in Athens’ Kolonaki district when he fell ill at around 4.30pm. A motorcycle rapid-response unit arrived at the scene, where a paramedic began cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR. An ambulance also arrived and transported him to Elpis Hospital without a pulse or spontaneous breathing, and he was pronounced dead at 5:40pm.
The hospital issued a statement confirming the news, saying: “At 4:45pm, he was brought in by EKAB ambulance without spontaneous breathing and with no pulse. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed in accordance with protocol, without success. The official time of death was 5:40pm.” Greece’s Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis subsequently intervened on Wednesday night and confirmed the cardiac arrest occurred during a plasmapheresis procedure at a facility operating under a simple pathology clinic license.
He said the procedure is not permitted in such facilities and said there would be an investigation.
Taking to X, he penned: “According to the initial information, Giorgos Mazonakis suffered cardiac arrest at what was supposedly a clinic, during a procedure that has been described as plasmapheresis.
“The precise cause of his death will, of course, be determined through the forensic investigation, as will whether anyone bears responsibility and, if so, who. We must, however, investigate the exact circumstances of the incident.
“In reality, the facility was licensed only as a general medical practice, and a medical procedure of this kind is not permitted to be performed in such a practice.
Pop star Giorgos Mazonakis death is being investigated (Image: Getty)
“I asked the president of the Athens Medical Association to immediately carry out the required inspection, as responsibility for inspecting medical practices lies with the respective local medical associations. That inspection has already begun.
“In any event, I urge patients to be careful about what they read online and not to put their health at risk under questionable conditions.
“I express my sincere condolences to his family and his thousands of friends,” he concluded.
The President of the Athens Medical Association Giorgos Patoulis revealed a committee has been formed to investigate the private practice and inspect its operating conditions in order to determine whether the procedures being carried out there were permitted under the licence issued for the premises.
