Tragic drowning accident at Inheidener See: DLRG cannot save!

Tragic drowning accident at Inheidener See: DLRG cannot save!

A tragic incident occurred at Lake Inheiden in mid-August, which once again underlines the importance of water rescue. A 21-year-old man drowned despite the rapid response of the German Life Saving Society (DLRG). In perfect weather on Saturday evening, the lifeguards were alerted by two young people who reported that their brother had gone under about 15 meters from the shoreline. The DLRG rescuers immediately formed a human chain and searched the bank area, but visibility underwater was severely limited to a maximum of one meter due to mud and aquatic plants. After an intensive search operation, it quickly became clear that the only focus was on retrieving the missing person.

The water rescue trains from Gießen and Heuchelheim as well as the Inheiden fire department were alerted. Tragically, diving teams found the 21-year-old dead two hours after his disappearance. The criminal police have launched an investigation and the emergency pastoral service was on site to assist the relatives. Michael Weide, the chairman of the DLRG Butzbach local group, makes it clear how dangerous waters can be for non-swimmers. According to a Forsa survey from 2022, 20% of primary school children in Germany cannot swim.

“A real problem”

The DLRG Butzbach offers swimming courses, but due to high demand and a waiting list for beginners, these courses are currently closed. This is particularly concerning given the alarming statistics. In 2025, a total of 321 people drowned in Germany, with 235 of these deaths taking place in lakes or rivers. There were 17 drowning deaths in Hesse. What is particularly striking is that 82% of those who drowned were men, and most of them were between 21 and 30 years old.

The DLRG has recently recorded a worrying increase in drowning accidents. The organization reported at least 411 fatal accidents in waters in Germany for 2023, which is 31 more cases than in the previous year. These numbers worry DLRG President Ute Vogt, who hopes that the sad statistics will make people aware of the dangers, especially during the warm seasons. In the coming months, it will actively make parents of young children aware of the risks.

A sad result

The drama of the situation is particularly evident during the bathing season: Since the start of the bathing season in May 2023, there have already been 230 bathing deaths in Germany by mid-September, including 321 drowned people in total. Although this number has fallen compared to the previous year, the dangers remain. An increase was particularly noted among young men, of whom there were 45 deaths — the highest number since 2019. 84% of swimming deaths this year were men.

The DLRG has shown in the past how important its commitment to disaster control and water rescue is. With currently 699 members, the Butzbach local group has a committed community, but there are problems recruiting new board members. Elena Blöcher, 19 years old, is active on the youth board and organizes events to promote awareness of water rescue and swimming education.

The tragic incident at Inheidener See reminds us how quickly such accidents can happen and how important it is to learn to swim. The commitment of the DLRG rescuers and their tireless work in the area of ​​water safety should continue to encourage us to use the element of water responsibly.

For further information about the current drowning statistics and the work of the DLRG, it is worth taking a look at the official pages: DLRG statistics, ZDF report and FNP article.