A Race Against Time in Mytilene: Two Turkish Tourists Saved by the “Flying Heart Doctor”
What began as a short holiday trip to the Aegean turned into a life-and-death struggle where hours and minutes mattered for two Turkish families. At the center of the story was a naval officer who had been traveling between Athens and Mytilene for years and an interventional cardiologist.
The Holiday Suddenly Became an Emergency
Güney, 52, and Tuçay, 62, who had come from Turkey to Mytilene with their families for a short vacation, did not know that a quiet weekend in the Aegean would become the most critical days of their lives.
According to reports published by Greek media citing APE-MPE sources, one of the two Turkish tourists suffered a serious acute myocardial infarction on Friday, and the other on Saturday. Both patients were quickly rushed to Mytilene Hospital and evaluated by the Cardiology Clinic.
Turkey Was Very Close, But Transfer Was Risky
On the map, Turkey is just across the coast from Mytilene. However, in the case of an acute heart attack, distance is not the only issue; the patient’s hemodynamic status, the stress caused during transfer, and how quickly medical intervention can be provided are decisive factors.
Procedures were initiated to refer the patients to hospitals in Turkey. However, the Cardiology Clinic team at Mytilene Hospital assessed that the burden of transferring the two patients might be too great. Thus, it was decided to keep the patients in the Cardiac Care Unit.
The solution was no longer to move the patients to another center, but to bring the necessary expertise to Mytilene.
The “Flying Heart Doctor” Steps In
At this point, Anastasios Milkas, an interventional cardiologist serving in the Hellenic Navy, stepped in. Milkas works at the Athens Naval Hospital and has been regularly traveling between Athens and Mytilene for years to support interventions in the Hemodynamics Laboratory at Mytilene Hospital.
This is why the nickname given to him by the Greek press is quite meaningful: the “Flying Heart Doctor.”
This was far more than a one-time extraordinary journey. It is reported that Milkas has made over 220 round trips between Athens and Mytilene in the last five years.
September 22: Two Critical Interventions
On Tuesday, September 22, Milkas was in Mytilene. Following the evaluation by the cardiology team, both Turkish patients underwent coronary angioplasty.
The procedures were completed by noon. Afterward, both patients were readmitted to the Cardiac Care Unit for close monitoring.
Reports indicated that the patients’ health conditions were progressing positively and that they planned to return to Turkey after being discharged.
More Than Just One Doctor: The Story of Mytilene’s Cardiology System
One striking aspect of the incident is the interventional cardiology capacity established in Mytilene in recent years. According to data provided by Milkas, approximately 1,500 coronary angiographies were performed and about 800 angioplasties were conducted on patients during the five-year period of the Hemodynamics Laboratory.
The development of this capacity has significantly reduced the need to air-lift coronary patients to Athens. In other words, the incident experienced by the two Turkish tourists was not just the success of a single doctor; it was the on-the-ground result of the collaboration built over years by the Cardiology Clinic, laboratory team, and staff at Mytilene Hospital.
Passports Mattered Nothing That Day
The human side of what happened is far stronger than numbers.
On one side were two Turkish tourists who suddenly suffered heart attacks in a foreign country and their anxious families. On the other side were Greek doctors, nurses, and hospital staff working to keep them alive.
For both sides, there was only one question: How can we safely keep these two people alive?
Thank-you messages shared on social media following the incident revealed the gratitude of the families for the support they received in Mytilene. A difficult health crisis once again showed how close people on both sides of the Aegean can be to each other.
The Aegean Is Sometimes Not a Border, But a Bridge
The sea between Mytilene and the Turkish coast is a short route crossed by thousands of people every year for vacations. However, this incident reminded us that the Aegean is not just about tourism.
The hope of a Turkish family, the capabilities of a hospital in Mytilene, and the expertise of a doctor from Athens came together at the same point.
Perhaps these two passengers will remember, when recounting their time in Mytilene years later, not first the beaches, taverns, or stone streets, but a hospital corridor and the people who worked for them.
Because some travelers return with photos. Others return with a second life.
What Should Be Done in a Medical Emergency in Mytilene?
The emergency number in Greece and all EU countries is 112. 112 is free and provides redirection to emergency services such as ambulances, police, or fire departments. In Greece, the number 166 is also used for the medical emergency service (EKAB). In cases of serious chest pain, shortness of breath, sudden changes in consciousness, or other emergency symptoms, professional help should be called immediately. |
What happened to the Turkish tourists who suffered heart attacks in Mytilene?
Two Turkish tourists, aged 52 and 62, suffered acute heart attacks one day apart. They were treated at Mytilene Hospital and underwent coronary angioplasty on September 22, 2026.
Who is Anastasios Milkas?
He is an interventional cardiologist serving in the Hellenic Navy at the Athens Naval Hospital. Due to his regular travel to and from Mytilene, he is known in the Greek press as the “flying heart doctor.”
Why weren’t the patients sent to Turkey immediately?
Referral to Turkey was considered; however, the Cardiology Clinic team at Mytilene Hospital found the transfer medically risky due to the potential burden it would place on the patients.
What is the emergency health number in Mytilene?
In Greece, 112 is the European emergency number and is free. The number 166 can also be used for the medical emergency service EKAB.
Is angioplasty available at Mytilene Hospital?
Yes. According to data cited in the report, the Hemodynamics Laboratory at Mytilene Hospital performed approximately 1,500 coronary angiographies and about 800 angioplasties in the last five years.
Sources and Verification Links
1. SKAI / APE-MPE – “Flying heart doctor” and the two Turkish tourists incident
2. Kathimerini – Acute infarction case of two Turkish visitors in Mytilene
3. Iatropedia – Patients aged 52 and 62, 220+ trips, and hemodynamics data
4. News 24/7 – Summary of the APE-MPE sourced incident and hospital team
5. Bodrum Olay Gazetesi – Turkish news report
6. Greek Gov.gr – National emergency numbers
7. European Commission – 112 European emergency number
