*File photo
The Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Dimokritos Zervakis, ordered an investigation into the circumstances of the serious accident during an exercise, which resulted in the critical injury of a 27-year-old SYOP commando. The accident happened yesterday in the sea area of Lara in a planned exercise (?), the scenario of which included jumping from the helicopter. The contract soldier has been hospitalized since yesterday in the Intensive Care Unit of the Nicosia General Hospital under sedation, with his health condition remaining extremely critical.
According to information from politis.com.cy, alongside the exercise (?), a video was also being shot to show life in the National Guard, which is why along with the military there was a film crew as well as Brusko's actor, Stefanos Michael. The actor and the film crew were transported from Paphos to Lara by the National Guard helicopter and some shots were taken inside the helicopter, as the script provided. According to the information we have so far, at the time of the accident, the actor was on land. It was preceded by filming of soldiers descending from the helicopter to land by rope, as well as footage of a boat in the sea. At the time of the 27-year-old's critical injury, the third section/exercise(?) for the video was being filmed.
The information of politis.com.cy was confirmed by the press representative of the Ministry of Defense, Christos Pieri. In the “Morning Review” of Politis 107.6 & 97.6, Mr. Pieri stated that based on the data so far, the speed and height of the helicopter were as predicted. The 27-year-old SYOP, he argued, was relatively experienced having participated in previous similar exercises.