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Tragic accident in Lemwerder: 84-year-old drowns in car accident
A tragic incident occurred in Lemwerder, where an 84-year-old drowned while trying to rescue his car from the harbor basin.
Tragic accident in Lemwerder: 84-year-old drowns in car accident
A tragic accident rocks the community of Lemwerder in the Wesermarsch district. On September 17, 2025, an 84-year-old man from Delmenhorst lost his life while trying to save his car that had rolled into the Ochtum River. As [ndr.de](https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersachsen/oldenburg_ostfriesland/auto-rollt-in-hafen Becken-84-jaehriger-springt-hinterher-und-stirbt,ochtum-100.html) reports, the accident occurred around 4:00 p.m. on the harbor area on the old Ochtum. Despite the fact that the terrain was not sloping, the car rolled into the harbor basin due to the strong wind.
The man noticed his vehicle in the water and jumped after it to reach it. “I thought I could still salvage the car,” said a passer-by who saw what was happening. However, it quickly became apparent that the undertaking was unmanageable. The 84-year-old tried to swim back to shore, but failed because of the strong headwind that pushed him further and further away from the mainland.
Emergency services in alarm mode
The fire brigade was alerted and immediately began searching for the man. Around 50 emergency services from the Delmenhorst professional fire department as well as volunteer fire departments from the surrounding communities and the DLRG were involved in the rescue operation. Despite the quick intervention, the search was unsuccessful in the first few minutes. The man's position could only be located by using a sonar boat, which, however, delayed the rescue.
The resuscitation attempts made by the rescue workers were ultimately unsuccessful. The 84-year-old man was confirmed dead. In order to support the victim's relatives, a crisis intervention team was notified to assist them during this difficult time, as the Jade Weser Zeitung reports.
The accident has triggered a wave of grief and sympathy in the region. Everywhere in Lemwerder and beyond people are affected by the fate of the elderly gentleman who paid a high price with his courageous attempt to save his car.