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Drama in Aquarius Lake: Rescue workers are desperately looking for swimmers!
Rescue workers are looking for a missing swimmer in the Wassermannsee in Cologne-Ehrenfeld. A 24-year-old was rescued.
Drama in Aquarius Lake: Rescue workers are desperately looking for swimmers!
A tragic incident occurred in the Wassermannsee in Cologne-Ehrenfeld on Thursday night. Rescue workers are currently searching for a missing swimmer, while a 24-year-old woman has been rescued from the water. She was taken to hospital with hypothermia after residents heard cries for help at 3:30 a.m. and alerted the police. The officers found the young woman in the water and helped her to the shore, but there was no trace of the 22-year-old man who was at the lake with her.
The search for the missing man is proving to be complex: over 150 emergency services, including rescue divers, service dogs and a police helicopter, are deployed to find the man. The circumstances why the two swimmers went into the water are still unclear. Initial investigations indicate that both may have been under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, which further complicates the situation. Police have also found no signs of foul play and are asking witnesses to come forward if they have any information about the incident. Soester Anzeiger reports on these dramatic developments.
Rescue operations in Germany
Such incidents are not just a problem in Cologne. In 2024, at least 253 people have already drowned in Germany, which means an increase of 35 cases compared to the previous year. This has alarmed the German Life Saving Society (DLRG) and led them to increasingly point out the dangers in water bodies. The situation is particularly critical in flowing waters, where the DLRG advises only swimming in guarded areas.
Another tragedy recently occurred in the Main near Hattersheim when a 34-year-old man sank while swimming. The deployment on site was enormous, with more than 150 emergency services, several boats and even drones. Here too, an initial assessment showed that the man was possibly drunk. After a three-hour search, his body was finally recovered from the river. These incidents highlight the importance of taking precautions when bathing. More information and statistics on drowning accidents can be found at ZDF.
The DLRG recommends that seniors in particular consult their doctor when planning swimming trips. Another warning sign is that 76 percent of those who drown are men, and older people are particularly at risk, especially those with underlying health conditions. Climate change is also cited as a factor causing the number of drownings to rise, not least in flood areas, which should give us all food for thought.