A Greek boat operator has been jailed for four years after two British teenagers died when he took the children out on a parasailing trip in a storm.
Nikos Mallios, 57, was convicted of health and safety failures that led to the deaths of Jessica Hayes, 15, and Mike Connelly, 13, in a 2020 trip to Rhodes, Greece.
Jessica’s father, Tony Hayes, said it was ‘the first step on the journey to justice… One that Jess and Mikey will look down on and be proud’.
The British teenagers were killed when the rope fastening their parachute to the vessel snapped in high winds – sending them crashing into rocks from a height of 400ft.
Mikey’s older brother, James, who was then aged 15, miraculously survived but spent two weeks in a coma.
A three-member panel at the Misdemeanour Court of Rhodes found Mallios guilty of breaching health and safety laws on Friday.
He was sentenced to four years in prison but was temporarily released after indicating he would appeal.
Mallios will appear at a higher court in Kos later this year where he will face two more serious charges of manslaughter and grievous bodily harm.
Nikos Mallios, 57, was convicted of health and safety failures that led to the deaths of Jessica Hayes , 15, and Mike Connelly, 13, in a 2020 trip to Rhodes
Cousins Jessica Hayes, 15, and Michael Connelly, 13, known to his family as Mikey died after falling 400ft in a parasailing accident
Mr Hayes, 43, told The Mirror: ‘Its a positive step in the right direction.
‘I am happy that a long sentence was given. However, the fight will continue and the next step is to take this to the higher court and make that sentence even longer.
‘But it doesn’t take away the loss. It doesn’t change the fact that Jess is not here. It doesn’t change the fact that Mikey is not here. It doesn’t change the fact that our lives have been ruined.
‘We still have some distance to go. Even though the outcome moves us forward, it still doesn’t take away the emptiness that remains from the loss.’
The family’s lawyer, George Moschos, said: ‘The sentence reflects the scale and seriousness of Mallios’ failings.’
In court, Mallios apologised to the family but denied any wrongdoing and tried to justify breaking rules forbidding triple-seat parasailing and the carrying of children under 14.
He also denied breaching guidelines by operating in bad weather and going outside of the designated watersports area.
But the Greek court dismissed his denials on Friday and handed Mallios a prison sentence.
Cousins Jessica Hayes, 15 (centre), and Michael Connelly, 13 (left) died in Rhodes . Mikey’s brother James Connelly (right), 15 at the time, was left in a coma for weeks
Three children aged 15-13 had been parasailing on Mallios’ boat (pictured) when a sudden storm hit and tragedy struck
Mr Hayes, from Northamptonshire, said: ‘I look at [Mallios] and I don’t think he went out of his way to do this. He has had his life devastated as well.
‘However he continues to defend some of his actions that day. I understand he feels bad and guilty but, for me, the apology would mean more if he just admitted he made a mistake. If he admitted he did something wrong.’
The Hayes family went on holiday to Rhodes in 2020 to celebrate Mr Hayes’s father-in-law’s surprise 65th birthday. Tony and Kayleigh Hayes went with Phillip and wife Sharon Connelly – the parents of James and Mikey.
In the days before the accident, the three children played games and watched bands in the hotel.
Jessica had told her parents the day before she died that it was the ‘best holiday she’d ever had’.
Mallios opened his Lindos Watersport Centre on the island in 2007.
His outfit catered largely to British tourists from a hut located on the beach behind the four-star Lindos Princess Hotel where the family arrived at the beginning of the week.
The three teenagers’ parents booked them on Mallios’ boat after seeing him featured on the hotel’s website.
The families said goodbye to their children at 12.30pm on the beach outside the hotel but never saw them again.
A storm erupted after the group set off and the speedboat was seen desperately trying to catch up with the trio after the rope snapped and their parachute veered uncontrollably towards the rocky coastline.
Pictured: The rocks where the three young people were found in Rhodes, Greece
The two teenagers were found on the rocks near the city of Lindos in Rhodes, Greece
An eyewitness on the boat said in court: ‘We were speeding towards the children, for about two or three minutes. It had started drifting down and it landed in the water.
‘We were relieved and thought we would be able to pull them aboard. But then a gust of wind caught the parasail and dragged it back up.’
Another witness said the water was ‘pretty choppy’ after a ‘terrible’ storm blew in.
The teenagers fell from a height of 400ft onto a remote, rocky coast. It took rescue crews several hours to reach them.
James – who survived – fell onto the rocks, breaking both his legs and suffering injuries to his head and spine.
James’s mother, Mrs Connelly, 47, fainted when she eventually saw the extensive damage to her son’s face in hospital.
Mallios has continued to operate his watersports company since the accident, according to The Mirror.
Mr Hayes said: ‘I never want anyone to have to experience anything as traumatic as this. Losing a child is the worst thing that can happen.’
