Fatal accident in Upper Bavaria: kayaker gets under water - detective investigates
Created: 05/10/2022 05:06
By: Andreas Seiler, Franziska Konrad
Dramatic action on the Loisach: the kayaker is wedged in trees under the water surface.
The tree trunks can only be lifted with a cable winch.
© Water Rescue LK Gap
A tragic accident shook the water sports scene: a kayaker died near Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Rescue workers could only recover the lifeless body.
Update from October 4th, 2:32 p.m .:
The Loisach in the area of the Griesenschlucht is considered a white water classic – and is used accordingly.
After the heavy rains of the last few days, however, the water is currently deep and the current is quite strong.
These forces of nature were apparently fatal to a kayaker from Erlangen late Monday afternoon around 4:30 p.m.
According to current knowledge, he drowned in the area known as the "Cathedral" because a large rock juts out into the torrent like a huge structure and creates a bottleneck.
Tragic accident on the Loisach: casualty "was well equipped and could go kayaking"
A man died in an accident in the Loisach on Monday.
Even a helicopter was on duty.
© Water rescue district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen
"It was a tragic accident," summed up operations manager Manuel Achtner from the Krün-Wallgau water rescue service.
In his estimation, it was not a beginner.
On the contrary: "He was well equipped and could go kayaking," reports Achtner.
So he had a helmet on and a wetsuit on.
How exactly the accident happened can only be roughly reconstructed.
The Kripo Weilheim has started the investigation.
However, there are no indications of third-party involvement.
The police also speak of a "fatal sports accident".
The 43-year-old man, who was with a kayaking group, stumbled, capsized and tried to swim to shore.
As is suspected in rescue circles, he got caught with one leg between tree trunks lying in the river and was pushed under water.
Fatal accident near Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Dramatic rescue attempts
Dramatic rescue attempts followed.
The four companions tried to help the casualty, as did the following kayakers - unfortunately unsuccessfully.
A large-scale rescue operation by water rescue service, fire brigade and BRK followed - a challenge in the impassable and steep terrain.
The water rescue services from Krün-Wallgau, Grainau and Garmisch-Partenkirchen were on site with around 20 people.
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Kayak tour in Garmisch-Partenkirchen ended fatally: man (43) capsized and drowned in the Loisach
However, they were not able to free the 43-year-old right away either.
The Garmisch fire brigade, with around 30 men and several vehicles on site, moved in with heavy equipment.
The trees were finally pulled away with a winch.
However, help came too late for the man.
After more than two hours, the emergency services could only recover the body from the floods.
Supervisors from the Crisis Intervention Service (KID) stood by the helpers.
Original notification from October 4, 2022:
Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Tragic end of a kayak trip near Garmisch-Partenkirchen: a kayaker got under water on the Loisach.
He died at the scene of the accident.
Now the Kripo Weilheim is investigating.
Man has an accident in the Loisach: kayak capsizes - 43-year-old can't keep his head above water
According to the police report, the accident happened on Monday, October 3rd.
A group of kayakers was out and about on the Loisach in the Griesen Gorge area around 4.30 p.m. in the afternoon.
Suddenly, a 43-year-old from Erlangen started to sway and capsized.
At first the kayaker tried in vain to free himself from the predicament.
But when he got out of his kayak, according to the police, he got caught on several underwater tree trunks - and could no longer stay afloat.
Deadly kayak accident: rescue workers can save man after two hours
Immediately initiated rescue attempts by his companions failed.
Since the site was very difficult to access, this proved difficult for the forces deployed.
It took more than two hours for the volunteer fire brigade and a local water rescue organization to rescue the lifeless man from the floods.
For him, however, any help came too late.
To clarify the cause of death, the Kripo Weilheim took over the investigation.
According to the current state of investigation, the Kripo assumes a tragic accident.
You can find more current news from the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen at Merkur.de/Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
