Swimming accident in Linthe: 20-year-old dies tragically in the gravel pond

Swimming accident in Linthe: 20-year-old dies tragically in the gravel pond

In a tragic new twist, a 20-year-old man died in a swimming accident in a gravel pond near Linthe, Potsdam-Mittelmark on Saturday evening, June 21st. The incident was reported by maz-online.de. At the beginning it was initially unclear who exactly was missing, which is why the first reports about a small child were circulating. But it soon turned out that it was the young man who had drowned while swimming.

An impressive contingent of fire brigade, rescue services and police were mobilized to search for the missing person. The fire department used several boats and even a rescue helicopter with a winch was used. Divers from Potsdam were called in to support the underwater search. After intensive efforts, the emergency services finally found a lifeless person in the water. However, the 20-year-old could only be rescued dead, which made the tragedy of slipping into the water clear. According to the current police investigation, there is no evidence of foul play, but the exact circumstances of the incident remain under investigation.

Prevention of swimming accidents

Swimming accidents are always an issue, not just in the Potsdam region; They can arise from carelessness or health problems. The German Life Saving Society (DLRG) counted a total of 378 drowning cases in 2023, with most of these accidents taking place in inland waters, where there are often no lifeguards. A report by zdf.de shows that children in particular are at risk because they are often unable to correctly assess dangers in the water.

In order to avoid allergies or serious health problems when bathing, a few rules of conduct should be followed. This includes, among other things, getting your body used to the water temperature, not swimming on a full stomach and always keeping an eye on children. Wearing neon-colored swimwear can also increase visibility in the water, which is especially important when multiple people are swimming.

Important information for first responders

If you see a drowning person, you need to act quickly and carefully. It is important to remain calm, call 112 and, if necessary, alert a lifeguard. Self-rescue into the water should only be carried out by experienced swimmers. Important advice for bathers is to keep an eye on the drowning person's position and, if possible, throw floating objects to help. If you are at risk in the water, we recommend lying on your back or stomach to save energy.

Overall, water accidents are a serious threat and vigilance is needed from both swimmers and emergency responders to ensure safety and prevent similar tragedies in the future. Further information about security measures can be found on the official website of the Brandenburg Police potsdam-echo.de.