A tragic boating accident occurred in Wismar Bay on Saturday. A 57-year-old man from Wismar capsized with his Laser south of the island of Walfisch. After the Wismar water police received an emergency call, they launched an extensive search operation. In addition to boats, a rescue helicopter was also deployed. After around two hours, the emergency services found the man lying dead in the water.
Cause of death unclear
The exact cause of death of the 57-year-old man is unclear. The public prosecutor's office in Schwerin had initially opened an investigation into the incident. On that day, gusts of over 25 knots were measured in Wismar Bay. In addition, the water temperature on site was around five degrees, while the air temperature was just over ten degrees.
If a person falls into the water at such low temperatures, the body cools down quickly. One of several possible consequences is that the body's ability to move quickly decreases. This in turn makes swimming impossible after a while. Without a lifejacket, the chances of survival are minimal.
About the dangers of cold and emergency measures:
Wismar public prosecutor's office: "No third-party fault"
A spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office in Schwerin told YACHT that the man was found lying in the water by rescue workers. According to her statement, he was wearing neither a wetsuit nor a life jacket. There were also no indications of any external culpability, which is why the investigation has now been closed.
