By Friday evening, police confirmed the tragic certainty: the person found dead in the lake was indeed the man who vanished on the public holiday of Corpus Christi while swimming. This information was confirmed to Bayerischer Rundfunk by the police.
Body Located Using Sonar Technology
The young man had gone underwater around 4 p.m. in full view of numerous beach visitors. Due to poor visibility beneath the surface, initial rescue attempts were unsuccessful. In the late afternoon, a police diving unit identified a suspicious area near the shoreline using sonar equipment. Divers searched the spot and located the lifeless body of the missing man, which was then brought ashore. Around 125 emergency personnel were involved in the large-scale search operation.
The fatal accident in Lower Bavaria was not the only tragic incident in a Bavarian lake in recent days. Last Sunday, a 32-year-old man died in Starnberger See after jumping from a boat into the water. According to police reports, he tried to swim back to the boat but lost consciousness. In addition, a 23-year-old student is still missing after also disappearing underwater in Starnberger See.
Water Rescue Service Provides Safety Advice for Bathing Accidents
Sebastian Thallmair, technical director of the district water rescue service in Starnberg, explained what helpers should keep in mind during emergency situations. The most important thing, he warned, was self-protection: “Anyone who wants to help must not put themselves in danger.” Thallmair stressed that people in panic tend to grasp wildly for anything to stay afloat, which could also endanger rescuers by pulling them underwater. Therefore, it was crucial to realistically assess one’s own abilities before jumping into the water.
He also emphasized that calling emergency services immediately and remaining at the scene to direct rescue teams to the exact location was essential. “We repeatedly face the problem that callers leave the accident site. Especially on Starnberger See, this makes the search extremely difficult, as the operational area is very large,” reported Thallmair.
Rescue Aids Can Save Lives
In serious cases, rescuers should try to keep a safe distance from the victim and assist from a secure position, such as the shore or a boat. Suitable aids include air mattresses, kickboards or sticks that can be extended to the person in distress. Anyone intending to swim to the rescue should approach from behind to avoid being grabbed by the panicking individual.
If the victim can be brought ashore or on board, first aid must be administered immediately. This includes checking whether the airways are clear. If the person is unconscious and not breathing normally, cardiopulmonary resuscitation must be carried out continuously until professional help arrives and takes over the treatment.
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