The two sailors were apparently on their way back from the island of Neuwerk to Bremerhaven when the accident occurred for unknown reasons. A sailor discovered their boat, which was around seven metres long, drifting upside down off the coast not far from the harbour entrance to Spieka-Neufeld yesterday morning. The village is located around ten kilometres southwest of Cuxhaven on the North Sea coast.
In shallow water, the dinghy cruiser's mast had become stuck in the silt. The DLRG and fire brigade, who were alerted and rescued the boat, then discovered the dead sailor inside. The second was found floating in the Weser estuary some time later. For him, too, all help came too late. It is assumed that one of the two is the 52-year-old owner of the boat.
According to the water police, the accident could have been the result of the heavy weather that prevailed at the time of the accident. Several sailors had been struggling with squalls on the North Sea during the same period.
