Family father from Cologne missing after swimming accident in the Rhine - body discovered!

Family father from Cologne missing after swimming accident in the Rhine - body discovered!

On August 13th, a tragic discovery was made in the Rhine near Cologne-Rodenkirchen. Passers-by discovered a lifeless person in the water around 2:20 p.m. and immediately alerted the rescue services. The Dinslaken fire department was only able to rescue the person dead. It is suspected that it is a 47-year-old father from Cologne who has been missing since Monday, August 11th. The man was swimming with his wife and two sons at “Rodenkirchener Beach” when he and one of his children got caught in the current. While the son was able to escape to the shore, there has been no trace of his father since then. The search for him was called off after several hours due to poor chances of survival. In recent days there have been increasing reports about the dangers of swimming in the Rhine, especially about the treacherous currents, which can also spoil your swimming pleasure. The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger describes that the police in the Wesel district have now started investigations, but the identity of the body has not yet been confirmed. An autopsy will clarify things.

But what exactly happened on Monday? On Monday afternoon, the fire department was reported that a person had drowned in the Rhine. The 47-year-old and his son went into the water on the beach in Cologne-Rodenkirchen. Loud WDR They got caught in the current, which is particularly strong in this area. Although the emergency services arrived with a large contingent, including divers and two helicopters, the search remained in vain. After more than two hours, the operation was canceled without success.

Dangers in the Rhine

The tragedy highlights the general dangers of swimming in the Rhine. Last year, 47 people drowned in North Rhine-Westphalia; according to the German Life Saving Society (DLRG), many of these accidents could have been avoided. In 2022, a total of 378 people drowned in Germany, an alarming increase compared to previous years. No-swimming signs and warnings are often ignored. The water police points out that the flow speeds in the Rhine can vary between 3 and 12 km/h. Suction and waves caused by passing ships pose an additional danger.

In recent days, the authorities have taken measures to prevent swimming accidents. The city of Düsseldorf has imposed a general ban on swimming in the Rhine, and Cologne is considering taking similar steps. It is becoming increasingly clear that while the Rhine offers refreshment, it can also be a dangerous place, especially for the untrained.