A young female sailor and a young male sailor aged around 20 were rescued from distress at sea by a navy helicopter late yesterday evening. A third young man of the same age is missing. This was announced by the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS), which is coordinating the large-scale search.
According to the DGzRS, the East Frisia land rescue control centre received a distress call from the sea at around 6.45 pm that was difficult to understand. A mobile phone location indicated a position near the islands of Baltrum and Langeoog. Several ships, including the sea rescue service and the Waterways and Shipping Administration, as well as helicopters from the navy and the ADAC, then began the search.
The navy search and rescue helicopter found the young female sailor shortly after 9.30 pm, just under three hours after receiving the emergency call, and another sailor around half an hour later. Both were winched up and flown to hospital. Both suffered hypothermia. The search for the third sailor has so far been unsuccessful.
At the time of the accident, there was a heavy swell in the sea area with wave heights of up to four metres.
Addendum: In the meantime, the sea rescuers have announced that the third sailor has been spotted floating lifeless under the surface of the water. However, attempts to rescue him have failed and the body has sunk into the depths.
