Urgent situations or crises. - A swimmer remains unaccounted for in the Rhine river.
A man who got caught in the Rhine's current in Düsseldorf is still unaccounted for while his wife remains hospitalized, a spokesperson from the Düsseldorf Fire Department elaborated.
The man tried to assist his wife, entering the river but found himself in trouble. As he drifted further away, his wife was later rescued by the rescue teams, seemingly unconscious.
The Rhine serves as a federal waterway, and the spokesperson detailed there isn't a fundamental ban on bathing, but certain areas have restrictions, such as in front of structures like bridges or at harbor entrances. They added, "We typically discourage people from entering the water due to its swift currents." The hazardous currents can be hard to spot under the calm surface of the river. Additionally, the suction of passing ships also put swimmers at risk.
According to the DLRG, in 2023, 378 people died due to drowning in Germany - markedly higher than the 355 deaths in 2022. The DLRG released these details in February. They also pointed out that most deaths occurred in unguarded inland waters (90%), with many fatalities occurring where rescue swimmers couldn't intervene. Inland waters seemed to have taken a toll as drowning victims outnumbered the previous year’s count with 135 compared to 105 respectively. However, in North Rhine-Westphalia, the number of fatal drowning accidents actually decreased in 2023.
Furthermore, the spokesperson drew a connection between drowning accidents and weather conditions, explaining that sunny days attracted more people to the water, increasing these unfortunate incidents.
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- Despite the woman's hospitalization, the Düsseldorf Fire Department is currently engaged in a search operation for her missing husband, who went missing in the Rhine river during an emergency situation.
- The woman's initial panic led her husband to enter the Rhine to help, but he soon found himself in difficulty due to the swift currents and the danger of passing ships.
- The incident underscores the importance of heeding the warnings from organizations like the DLRG, as 378 people died due to drowning in Germany in 2023, a significant increase from the 355 fatalities in 2022.
- The DLRG, a German organization dedicated to water safety, pointed out that most of these deaths occurred in unguarded inland waters, where rescue swimmers couldn't intervene.
- While the number of fatal drowning accidents decreased in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2023, swimmers should still be cautious, especially during sunny weekends when the risk of drowning accidents tends to increase.
- If you're planning to bathe in the Rhine, be aware that while it's not banned, certain areas have restrictions, and the currents can be hazardous, even appearing calm on the surface.
- Emergency services, including the fire department and the DLRG, urge the public to stay vigilant, obey safety guidelines, and report any missing persons or emergencies promptly, helping to ensure the safety of all who enjoy the Rhine.
Source: www.stern.de
