On Wednesday night, the crew of the tugboat "Holtenau" spotted the abandoned sailing yacht "Den Bla" and raised the alarm. Around three hours later, at around 4.30 a.m., the dead skipper was recovered near Friedrichsort.
The yacht, registered in Helsingborg, Sweden, was running under engine power with its foresail set when it was discovered with a damaged railing. Marines on the shore, six ships and a helicopter took part in the large-scale search for her crew. As it was initially unclear when and where the accident might have occurred, the operation covered a wide area. The crew of the pilot boat "Schilksee" finally discovered the body in the 8-degree water near the Bundeswehr's demagnetisation site.
According to the Kieler Nachrichten newspaper, the 32-year-old was from near Wilhelmshaven. He was wearing his lifejacket, the automatic system of which had been triggered.
According to the water police, the course of the accident is still a complete mystery. Frank Otte from the Kiel police station is "currently assuming it was a tragic accident", but he says there are currently no definitive findings. For example, it is still unclear whether the man was already dead or unconscious when he went overboard, whether he drowned or froze to death.
According to initial estimates, the sailor may have been on a ferry voyage from Helsingborg to the North Sea.
