A 30-year-old man was killed at Porto Rafti, eastern Attica, yesterday, when the speedboat he was traveling in crashed into a cliff, in the first fatal boating accident of the year, authorities said.

The reasons for the accident are not known.

The Coast Guard was only notified of the accident several hours after it occurred by a second man, aged 26, who had also been in the boat.

After the crash, the second man managed to reach a nearby home and ask for help before passing out.

When he recovered consciousness a few hours later at a nearby hospital, he informed authorities about the accident.

The 30-year-old is believed to have died instantly.

Authorities said that stricter policing of speedboat drivers, including more frequent breathalyzer tests, have helped reduce the number of boat accidents.

According to statistics provided by the Merchant Marine Ministry, 25 people were killed in speedboat accidents in Greece between 1997 to 2006.