Northern Greece 49-year-old baker in Damasi, near Larissa, was fatally strangled when her scarf became trapped in a bread-making machine during cleaning.
A bakery worker in northern Greece has died in a tragic workplace accident on Thursday November 13, 2025, after her scarf became entangled in the rollers of a bread-making machine, fatally tightening around her neck before help could arrive. The incident has left the small community of Damasi, near Larissa, in deep shock as authorities investigate how the fatal malfunction occurred.
The victim, 49-year-old Zoe Letsiou, was working alone at her bakery when the accident happened. Local authorities said she had completed the day’s production and was in the process of cleaning the machine when the equipment unexpectedly activated. Her scarf was pulled into the rollers, creating a tightening noose that caused immediate strangulation.
Emergency services were alerted when a customer noticed Ms. Letsiou was missing from the shop area and raised the alarm. Paramedics rushed to the scene and attempted resuscitation, but she was pronounced dead inside her workplace. A neighboring baker told local broadcaster ANT1 that the machine appeared to restart suddenly as Ms. Letsiou was cleaning it, leaving her with no chance to break free.
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The news has devastated residents of Damasi, a close-knit community roughly 30 kilometers northwest of Larissa. Dozens of tributes were posted online, with many expressing disbelief that such a rare and sudden accident could claim the life of someone well known in the town. “What a shame, young woman. My deepest condolences to the family,” one resident wrote. Another added, “Give courage to her family to bear the pain.”
Greek authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the precise circumstances that led to the machine’s activation and whether safety measures or equipment safeguards were inadequate. Workplace safety experts say accidents involving loose clothing and industrial food-processing machines, while uncommon, highlight the importance of strict protocols during cleaning and maintenance.
Similar incidents have been documented elsewhere. In 2013, a 58-year-old woman in Saint-Étienne, France, died when her scarf became caught in a domestic food processor while she was baking with her teenage son. Investigators in that case also cited loose clothing as a contributing factor.
For Ms. Letsiou’s family and the Damasi community, the focus now is on mourning a woman remembered for her dedication to her craft and her long-standing presence in the local bakery trade. Authorities are expected to release their findings once the full mechanical assessment and witness statements are complete.
