Body at Wassermannssee: Missing man from Cologne is found dead

Body at Wassermannssee: Missing man from Cologne is found dead

On Monday afternoon, June 16, 2025, a tragic incident occurred in the Ehrenfeld district of Cologne: a walker discovered a dead male on the shore of Lake Wassermann at around 3:30 p.m. Initial information suggests that it is the 22-year-old from Cologne who has been missing since Thursday and was traveling with a 24-year-old companion when the accident occurred. She was rescued by residents a few hours earlier and had to be taken to hospital due to hypothermia, as Express reports.

The companion had informed the emergency services that the 22-year-old was still in the water. Rescue workers were then immediately alerted to search. However, when the person was found dead, the search efforts were stopped. A forensic medical examination will now clarify what exactly led to his death. The criminal police's investigation has already begun.

A night full of uncertainty

Back to the fateful evening: The 22-year-old had been reported missing since 3:30 a.m. last Thursday after he and his companion went illegally swimming in Lake Aquarius. An offense that may have occurred under the influence of narcotics. This was confirmed by the police, who are also closely investigating the circumstances of the incident. According to Tag24, the search measures were stopped on Monday afternoon after the body was found.

The events once again shed light on the dangers of swimming in bodies of water at night. Unfortunately, young people in particular have to experience the consequences of such careless decisions again and again. It's a sad reminder that life often takes unpredictable turns.

A look at crime in the region

In order to classify the current incident, it is important to take a look at the general crime situation in Germany and specifically in North Rhine-Westphalia. According to Statista, current statistics show a small decrease in all crimes recorded, while the increase in crimes that affect citizens' sense of security remains particularly worrying. In 2024, the decline in crime was 1.7% to around 5.84 million cases, which indicates a positive development, but cannot hide concerns about the hidden number of unreported cases.

The young man's tragic death reminds us all of the importance of responsibility and safety. The Cologne Criminal Investigation Department will continue to work on the case in the hope of learning more about the circumstances that led to this devastating incident.