Recent debate on social media has reignited questions surrounding the death of Grigoris Afxentiou, the legendary EOKA fighter known as the “Eagle of Machairas.” Some posts speculate that he may have died by suicide or was executed by a fellow fighter—claims based on a gunshot wound reported during the 1957 post-mortem examination. However, a detailed post by the Facebook page EOKA Historical Memories 1955–1959 challenges these interpretations using forensic and historical analysis.
The forensic dimension
According to the original report dated 4 March 1957, the British pathologist recorded that Afxentiou’s body was completely charred and bore a gunshot wound to the head. But the recent post notes that in cases of severe charring, determining the firing range is virtually impossible. This is due to the destruction of critical indicators such as soot, gunpowder residue, and tissue damage.
International forensic manuals, including Gunshot Wounds by Vincent J.M. DiMaio and Handbook of Forensic Medicine by Burkhard Madea and Pekka Saukko, both confirm that estimating the firing distance in cases involving extensive burns is scientifically unreliable. As a result, the claim that the shot was fired from “two feet away” lacks a credible basis.
The historical context
Eyewitness accounts from Afxentiou’s comrades state that he ordered them to leave the hideout and stayed behind to face the British forces alone. The battle lasted several hours, with British troops reportedly unable to capture him despite using bullets and grenades. Eventually, they poured petrol into the hideout and set it ablaze.
Augustis Efstathiou, the last comrade to exit the hideout, testified that no gunshots were heard at the time the fire was lit. This version is also supported by British colonial archives, which document the events of the day.
Key conclusions
The post from EOKA Historical Memories highlights three major points:
- A self-inflicted gunshot would likely show contact-wound characteristics, which were not reported.
- There is no historical or testimonial evidence supporting the theory of execution by a fellow fighter.
- Fire damage made any estimate of the shot’s range impossible.
“The sacrifice of Grigoris Afxentiou is not undermined—it is reaffirmed by the British failure to capture him alive and their final decision to set fire to the hideout,” the page notes.
Feature photo source: Limassol Today
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