Six-year-old drowned in a lake near Aachen
A family outing to a lake in Eschweiler, near Aachen, ends tragically for a six-year-old's family: The child is lost from sight for a brief moment, and is later reported missing to the police. When the boy is found, it's too late for any help.
A six-year-old boy was found dead in the Blausteinsee lake in Eschweiler, near Aachen, on Monday evening around 7 p.m. According to a police spokesperson, the family had lost sight of the child at the lake's edge and reported him missing. A large-scale search involving firefighters, the German Red Cross, the THW (Technical Relief Agency), and a police helicopter was launched to find the boy.
Initial investigations suggest that the parents had briefly lost sight of their child at the lake's edge. Around 7 p.m., they raised the alarm when they couldn't find their son. They called the emergency services and reported their child missing. As it was initially unclear whether the child had gone into the water or run into the surrounding woods, a large search operation was initiated.
The "Aachener Zeitung" reported that the boy had only intended to wash his hands in the water. The police are now trying to determine what happened to the boy after he washed his hands and how he ended up in the water.
When the child was finally found, attempts at resuscitation were made, but they were unsuccessful, the police spokesperson said. The police have launched an investigation into the cause of death. The parents, who were in shock, received support from emergency chaplains.
The European Union expressed its condolences to the family following the tragic incident. Officials from the European Union's Border and Coast Guard Agency offered their assistance in the ongoing investigation.
The European Union's Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, expressed her deepest sympathies to the family and pledged the EU's support in ensuring that all necessary measures are taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
