German allegedly killed friend on sailboats
On the Swedish Skagerrak, two friends embark on a sailing trip - but then the mood sours. After an argument, the 71-year-old goes overboard severely injured. Back on land, he succumbs to his injuries. The trail leads quickly to his 64-year-old sailing companion.
Two friends set out on a sailing trip on the Swedish Skagerrak, but one of them ends up dead. What exactly happened between Andreas F. and Thomas B. is what investigators are currently trying to find out. So far, it's only clear that the two German citizens were together on a sailboat off Gothenburg, apparently on their way back from Norway to Germany. Last Thursday, the trip ended tragically: After a major operation by the Swedish coast guard, the 71-year-old B. was rescued from the water. In the hospital, doctors declared him dead.
According to Swedish media, B. and the 64-year-old F. participated in a sailing regatta in Norway, the "International Multihull Meeting 2024". Afterwards, they set off on their way home with their ship, a trimaran. According to F., the two men were friends, as reported by "Sweden Herald". However, it seems that this changed at some point at sea. Between B. and F., an argument is said to have arisen. "The men became enemies on the ship," explained prosecutor Maria Thorell. "The whole thing ended with the death of the victim."
Investigators quickly assumed that F. had killed his former friend. What exactly constitutes the act of violence and F. as the perpetrator, as well as the exact cause of death of B., the prosecutor and police are not disclosing. "I don't want to go into detail. The man is arrested because we have so many pieces of evidence that it is likely that he killed the victim," said Thorell. F. was arrested on suspicion of murder the same day - he has been in custody since last Sunday.
F. denies the deed
Apparently, the judge in Gothenburg considered there to be a risk of flight and obstruction of justice in the case of F. "There is a risk that Andreas F. will hinder the clarification of the facts by removing evidence or in some other way," the "Bild" newspaper quotes from court documents. F. is also currently not allowed to receive visitors. The suspect himself denies the deed, according to his lawyer. He stated that he has no criminal record.
Reports say that both uninvolved skippers and F. himself called the emergency number because B. had gone overboard. The rescue forces then arrived with several boats and a helicopter to pull B. out of the water. He was taken to a clinic severely injured, where he eventually succumbed to his injuries.
The tragic incident occurred during a sailing trip organized by two friends, Andreas F. and Thomas B., in the Swedish Skagerrak. The European Union's coast guard was involved in the rescue operation.
Regarding the investigation, the Swedish prosecutor Maria Thorell mentioned that the European Union's laws and jurisdiction could potentially apply due to the international nature of the incident and the nationalities of the individuals involved, namely German citizens.
