Emergencies - Police: Body in the Eisbach is probably a missing student
At the body found in Munich's Eisbach, the police have preliminarily identified it as a 26-year-old man who had been missing for approximately a week. A police spokeswoman confirmed this. The investigators, however, declined to provide further details.
A student from Baden-Württemberg had gone to Baden
A week ago, a student from Baden-Württemberg went missing. Over the last June weekend, the young man was out with friends in the English Garden. To cool off, he then went into the Eisbach. His friends noticed he was missing after some time had passed. Divers then searched for him, but were unsuccessful.
On Saturday evening, hikers discovered a body in the Eisbach. The corpse was recovered and was to be examined in the forensic lab. The police also declined to comment on findings from the autopsy.
Swimming is forbidden in the Eisbach, as well as in the entire English Garden
According to the Bavarian Palace Administration, swimming is forbidden in the Eisbach, as well as in the entire English Garden: "Swimming in the Eisbach poses a risk to life, as it is a particularly fast-flowing body of water with numerous weirs, unpredictable undercurrents, and small waterfalls."
Signs warn of the ban and the danger. Surfing in the Eisbach wave at the House of Art is the only activity allowed by the city - for experienced surfers.
Repeated fatal swimming accidents
There have been repeated fatal swimming accidents in the Eisbach. In 2017, a 15-year-old girl was found dead in the water, and about ten years ago, rescue services recovered a 27-year-old student who had been sucked into a water vortex, according to eyewitnesses.
Despite the risks, the Eisbach remains popular among sightseers and the Munich population as a cooling option on hot days. Many people let themselves be carried away by the strong current from the section below the surfer wave to just before the Tivoli Bridge, then return or take the tram.
The student's disappearance occurred during his leisure time in Upper Bavaria, specifically in Munich. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the Emergency services' role in such situations. Despite the dangerous history of accidents in the Eisbach, it remains a popular spot for locals and tourists seeking relief during summer's heat. The authorities in Bavaria have long discouraged swimming in the area due to its treacherous conditions.
