- German sailor found dead in the water. What happened on board his yacht?
When he was discovered in the water, it was already too late. A week ago, a 71-year-old German was found drifting 25 kilometers off the coast of Sweden near Gothenburg. Passengers on a passing boat spotted him and alerted the rescue services. They flew him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that same day.
Before this, the deceased had reportedly taken part in a sailing regatta in Norway with a 64-year-old. What happened on board the sailing yacht during the return trip is currently under investigation. The responsible prosecutor suspects the 64-year-old from Berlin of having murdered the 71-year-old. The suspect is currently in custody in Gothenburg.
Prosecutor Maria Thorell stated that there is a suspicion that the man drowned. "Now we are conducting technical investigations and awaiting the autopsy report," Thorell said further. The investigation is being conducted in cooperation with the German authorities, as stated in the prosecutor's press release.
How did the German sailor die?
So far, authorities have not provided more details. Whether the deceased was injured could provide clues about what happened. In sailing, especially with strong winds and a tacking maneuver, the boom - the metal tube at the bottom of the mainsail - can swing violently across the boat. If it hits someone on the head, they may fall overboard - possibly unconscious. Even a moment of carelessness or a wave that causes one to lose balance can lead to a fall into the water.
Lifting a person who has fallen into the water back onto a yacht is almost impossible, even with technical aids. In addition to the person's weight, the weight of the then water-soaked clothing also comes into play - 100 kilograms can be reached quickly.
Emergency call and rescue operation came too late
According to "Bild", both the 64-year-old and the skipper of another yacht made an emergency call. However, the search and rescue operation came too late to save the 71-year-old's life. Now, investigators want to find out: Was it an accident or murder?
The most famous example of murders on board a sailing yacht is the "Apollonia case" from 1981: During a sailing trip from the Canary Islands across the Atlantic to the Caribbean, one of the sailors eventually shot two others and severely injured another.
The European Union has been informed about the ongoing investigation by Swedish authorities due to the involvement of a German suspect. The cooperation between Swedish and German authorities is crucial in gathering evidence and ensuring a fair trial.
If the investigation reveals that the death was indeed a result of a murder, it could potentially impact the European Union's policies regarding safety measures during sailing regattas, aiming to prevent such incidents in the future.
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