Corpse in the Rhine: Is it one of the missing bathing accident victims?

Corpse in the Rhine: Is it one of the missing bathing accident victims?

On Monday, June 23, a lifeless person from the Rhine was recovered in Wesel. A skipper discovered the lifeless body in the afternoon and immediately alerted the emergency services. The criminal police have started the investigation into identity and the cause of death. According to initial investigations, it is possible that the deceased is one of the missing bathing accident victims. An emergency doctor could only confirm death; An autopsy to clarify identity is scheduled for June 30th. The incident throws a light on the dangers of the Rhine, especially after several bathing competitions on the weekend, in which people have been missing several times in the Rhineland. The police had started intensive searches in Düsseldorf, Bonn, Cologne and Duisburg on Saturday and Sunday, whereby the all -clear could only be given in Bonn. While a 37-year-old was saved in Düsseldorf, a viewed person in Cologne-Deutz remained disappearing despite extensive search measures.

tragic incidents in the Rhine

In another worrying situation, two corpses were found on August 7th and 8th at the Reckingen hydropower plant in the Rhine. These could later be identified as the women missing since August 4, a 29-year-old and a 15-year-old, both of whom could not swim. Eyewitnesses reported screams and an accident in which the women plunged into the Rhine while they were on the shore with other people. The large -scale search started by the police, which, among other things, started boats, divers and drones, initially remained unsuccessful. Despite bad weather and major challenges, the water protection police continued to carry out searches.

These drowning cases also make a highlight of the general dangers when bathing in waters. According to DLRG, there were a total of 411 bath deaths in 2024, a worrying increase around 31 compared to the previous year. The majority of the accidents - more than 320 - occurred in inland waters, i.e. rivers, lakes and ponds. DLRG President Ute Vogt points out that unexpected waters in particular should be avoided. The statistics show that practically 80 percent of the victims are male and that there were 14 fatal accidents with children up to 10 years.

The situation on the Rhine is alarming and requires a waxing eye of the bathers, especially in the summer months. The currents are tricky, and many ancestors are not at the risk of danger.

It is all the more important to deal with the dangers and to be aware that even relaxing hours on the water can quickly turn into a tragedy. The improved search measures and the educational work of the DLRG are decisive steps to prevent such incidents in the future.