Across Bavaria, there were already three drowning deaths shortly after the start of the bathing season. One of them crashed while swimming in Lenggries. Heinz Eger from the district water rescue warns against carelessness on and in the water.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen – Although the bathing season has only been running for a few weeks, three people have already drowned in Bavaria. One of them, a 15-year-old from Munich, was rescued at the beginning of May by local emergency services from the Walchen near Lake Sylvenstein. "We warn again and emphatically against going into the water with too much carelessness," appeals the state chairman of the water rescue service, Thomas Huber in a message. Heinz Eger (57) agrees. In an interview with our newspaper, the chairman of the district water rescue service talks about the dangers posed by the waters in the Tölzer Land and about what urgently needs to be considered despite all the bathing pleasure.
Mr. Eger, there was already a bathing death in Lenggries at the beginning of May. Were you present during the mission?
Yes. We searched for the young person with many emergency services from various organizations. After the helicopter's thermal imaging camera did not show anything when it first flew over the area, the bad suspicion arose that we would probably not find the missing person alive. Unfortunately, this has proven to be true. When we found the 15-year-old, he had been dead for some time.
+Heinz Eger from Bad Tölz has been with the water rescue service for 40 years.
© Arndt Pröhl
Heinz Eger on the recovery of drowning victims: "I can't forget something like that"
How do you deal with such images?
I can't forget something like that. Of course, this keeps me busy for a while. I find it particularly tragic that the young person would have had many more years of life ahead of him. And that drowning is something terrible.
Within a month, there were two more deaths in the water in Bavaria. Is this increasing?
In absolute terms, we can't say for sure at the beginning of the season. But it's a terrifying start. What we are noticing, however, is that more and more children and young people cannot swim here or cannot swim well. This is alarming.
Why is that?
The cancelled swimming courses due to Corona are an issue. But also in general you notice that fewer children and adolescents often and actively train swimming, which is indispensable for a safe stay in the water. In general, and even now during the holiday season, you have to keep in mind that there are people from other countries here, where it is not always standard for every child to learn to swim. The bottom line is that the number of non-swimmers bathing in the waters here has increased.
Never swim long distances alone
What do you generally need to consider when bathing?
Most of this sounds banal, but we notice again and again that these points are not paid attention to by many. You always have to find out about the body of water you are bathing in. You have to have a look at the temperature of the water and the outside temperature. If it's too cold, it's better not to go in or only in a wetsuit. Of course, you should not go into the water with a full stomach, completely empty or exhausted. If you plan to swim a longer distance, you should never do it alone – no matter how fit you are. Especially not when he swims further out into a lake. Unfortunately, it is not a matter of course that you should not go into the water after consuming alcohol or drugs. And then, of course, it is important to take care of others, especially children.
What do you mean by that exactly?
The duty of supervision for children, even in the outdoor pool, lies with the parents. The bad case of the boy, who came under water in 2016 in the Benediktbeurer Alpenwarmbad and is now severely disabled, shows how quickly this can happen. Lifeguards can't keep an eye on everyone at all times to avoid such accidents. It is imperative that parents or other guardians take uninterrupted care when bathing with children. Many have no idea how quickly and inconspicuously drowning occurs.
Can you elaborate on that?
Well, the drowning itself doesn't take much more than half a minute. In addition, it is a misconception that people scream loudly or wave their arms before they drown. Death by drowning is usually a quiet and agonizing death. Almost unnoticed, a drowning person simply sinks.
Respect for the element of water is the be-all and end-all
In addition to the general rules of conduct in and around the water, are there any specific things that need to be observed when bathing here in the district?
In some places it is more tearing on the Isar than it looks from the outside. You shouldn't underestimate this power if you're only up to your knees. What's more, the ground is never flat. The large stones and also the branches that the river transports are of course a source of danger. In the lakes, it is important to pay attention to the temperature. The Walchensee, for example, is very cold. I would not recommend an untrained swimmer without a wetsuit to go into a body of water below 17 degrees water. To do this, you have to keep an eye on the influences of streams in the case of lakes. It's colder there, and there are currents. It is imperative to inform yourself about any body of water, no matter how harmless it seems, before swimming. The be-all and end-all is to have respect for the element of water and not to underestimate the dangers.
You can find even more up-to-date news from the region at Merkur.de/Bad Tölz.