Dark, cold and dozens of meters deep: desperately and so far without results, numerous emergency services are searching Lake Wolfgang and Lake Constance for two missing men who were out on stand-up paddle boards. Getting the two victims back alive is now hopeless. While a search was started again in Upper Austria on Saturday evening, the investigations by the emergency services in Vorarlberg were temporarily halted. The police revealed the “Krone” more details.
Since Thursday, a 21-year-old has been swallowed by Lake Constance in Vorarlberg. While his two friends were rescued alive, there is no trace of the young man. The victim would be about 60 meters deep and the water police have been able to locate the mobile phone and the board. “The search has so far been unsuccessful and has had to be abandoned until now,” explains the state traffic service – water police in Vorarlberg.
Use on Lake Constance has been terminated for the time being
The troops had sent a diving robot into the depths, two unidentifiable objects were sighted. “Now we have to wait for the results,” the police told the “Krone”. Because whether one of the two objects is the corpse has yet to be investigated. However, because the robot malfunctioned during the mission, a new diving robot has to be borrowed from Germany. “The investigation cannot be continued until Monday. If we do not get results, the search will be stopped.”
Desperate search on the Wolfgangsee
Apparently the water police at Wolfgangsee in the Salzkammergut are more confident in finding something. Here, witnesses could see how a 23-year-old water sports enthusiast fell into the lake on Friday afternoon and went under. He still hasn’t been found either. The big search for the missing person lasted until 04:00 Saturday morning. Emergency services are at their wits’ end: visibility is poor and it is cold because the lake at the accident site is 60 to 80 meters deep.
The body can stay on the bottom forever
Nevertheless, they want to continue to search for the sailor with sonar boats. The search will continue Saturday evening. Why so late? It is easier to look for the man at night because there is less activity on the lake. Time is of the essence: if it is too cold at the bottom, the body can no longer form gases that would allow it to reach the surface. If the quest is not successful, it may very well be that he will stay there forever…
It is not the first tragic accident to shock the country. Every year, countless water sports enthusiasts disappear on Austria’s lakes and, in the worst case, are found dead. Only recently was a glider found in Upper Austria at the bottom of Lake Irrsee. In addition, several deaths have occurred among bathers in recent weeks – for example on the Pleschinger See or on the Wörthersee.
Keep an eye on the weather!
The water rescue service repeatedly emphasizes what factors swimmers should pay attention to when on the water. One of the most important rules is to keep an eye on the weather. If a thunderstorm comes up, leave the lake immediately. Another tip: the night belongs only to the lake! If you want to be on the lakes at night, make yourself recognizable with a white all around light. You should also carry a mobile phone in a waterproof case. Witnesses who see an accident victim from a distance should note the scene of the accident to make it easier for emergency services to search.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
