A 37-year-old British national suddenly disappeared from the Lake Como region of Italy while trying to help a boy that was reportedly drowning.
The event took place on Monday afternoon, at the western region of the lake. The man was on a boat trip with the family of one of his friends and saw that they were in distress in the water.
According to the Italian rescue service, the British man jumped into the lake to try to help. The father and son were able to be rescued by another boat that happened to be near the scene of the incident.
However, as for the young man who attempted the rescue, he disappeared after entering the water and could not be seen.
The mother of the boy called the emergency services after the event took place. The earliest reports said that the father went into the lake to rescue the young person and the British compatriot, while the authorities changed their statement later on.
Search Effort Underway
The father of the two boys and his 16-year-old son were moved to a vessel of the coastguard after being rescued. The two also received medical treatment as they showed signs of hypothermia.
In the meantime, the mother and her smaller child, who were about 600 meters from the coast, were also got back safely to the shore.
The officials started a search operation for the British man who is still missing. Helicopters, divers, and vessels of the fire service of the Italy, coastguard and police took part in the search.
Two underwater robots were also prepared for the operation. They are very important because some parts of Lake Como in the area have depth more than 250 meters which makes some parts too deep and dangerous for the traditional diving operation.
It is anticipated that underwater technology will play a key role in the search for the areas of the lake that divers cannot reach safely.
The family of the missing man has been supported by UK authorities.
According to the statement provided by the British Foreign Office, the missing man’s family is being helped while the office is in touch with relevant authorities in Italy.
The case reminds us of the dangers associated with swimming in unknown waters, no matter how well-known the place is.
The lake is located around 48 km from Milan, in one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy and characterized by picturesque views of mountains, historic cities, and villas among lakeside communities.
Unfortunately for the family, their vacation at one of the most scenic lakes turned into searching for a missing individual and dealing with the consequences of the incidents occurring under the lake.
