Suche
Mein Konto
84-year-old drowns while chasing his car in the harbor basin!
An 84-year-old man drowns in Lower Saxony while swimming after his car in the harbor basin. Rescue workers are on duty.
84-year-old drowns while chasing his car in the harbor basin!
In a tragic turn of events, an 84-year-old man in Lower Saxony drowned while swimming after his car that rolled into a harbor basin. The incident occurred on Monday in Lemwerder-Ochtum, in the Wesermarsch district. As [stern.de](https://www.stern.de/news/niedersachsen–mann-schwimmt-auto-in-hafen Becken-hinterher-und-ertrinkt-36058398.html) reports, the vehicle was probably pushed into the water by strong wind.
The elderly man, hoping to save his car, swam after it but quickly realized he couldn't get back to shore without support. Despite his efforts and the efforts of around 50 helpers from the fire department and the German Life Saving Society who were involved in the search and rescue, he sank and could ultimately only be rescued lifeless.
More tragic incidents in the region
An alarming trend
These tragedies are part of a worrying trend in Germany. According to the DLRG, a total of 411 fatal accidents in water were recorded in 2023. This represents an increase of 31 deaths compared to last year, marking the third consecutive increase in the number of drownings. For the first time since 2019 there have been more than 400 deaths. DLRG President Ute Vogt expresses the hope that better awareness of the dangers in the waters can be created, especially among parents of small children, in order to avoid tragic incidents such as those documented on dlrg.de.
These incidents serve as another reminder of the importance of always being cautious and vigilant when engaging in activities in and around water. Nature is often unpredictable and it only takes a moment to find yourself in a dangerous situation.