Greek singer Pantelis Pantelis died and two female passengers were seriously injured in a car crash earlier today.
Initial reports suggested the accident occurred at 8.20 am on Vouliagmenis Avenue in the area of Elliniko, southern Athens.
Pantelidis, 32, was reportedly driving when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed against the crash barriers.
According to Greek newspaper Kathimerini, the singer was transferred to a hospital in Voula where he was pronounced dead. The two women were reported to be in critical condition.
Pantelidis was due to head Down Under in May to perform for his fans alongside Antonis Remos.
Promoter from Juggernaught Entertainment Theo Kanatas, who was responsible for bringing the singers out to Australia took to Facebook to express his shock.
“It is with great sadness and utter disbelief that Panteli Pantelidis has been killed in a car accident this morning in Greece,” he wrote, going on to describe the singer as a “true gentleman”.
“Last year, we discussed he was very much looking forward to coming to Australia for the first time. And we too were very much looking forward to showing him how passionate we Australian Greeks are about his music.”
Mr Kanatas also kindly requested that those who have already purchased tickets for the performance “be patient while we work out what is going to happen moving forward”.
Pantelidis was born in Athens in 1983 and grew up in the neighborhood of Nea Ionia. A self-taught musician, he abandoned a career in the Hellenic Navy to pursue his musical ambitions.