79-year-old German tourist recovered dead from Lake Wörthersee

A doctor could only confirm the death of the 79-year-old. The woman could only be recovered from the water dead. Emergency services and the rescue service were deployed on the shore when the search teams reached the site of the discovery.

Investigations and exclusion of third-party fault

Police ruled out third-party fault. According to the current state of the investigation, it is a tragic swimming accident; third-party fault – that is, fault on the part of others – is being ruled out. The exact circumstances of the tragedy are part of the ongoing investigations.

Background: Safety at Lake Wörthersee

Lake Wörthersee is one of Austria's best-known bathing lakes and is visited by numerous tourists in summer. Water temperatures have recently reached levels inviting swimming, while emergency services regularly warn of the risks of swimming alone, especially for elderly persons.

The exact cause of the accident is still the subject of investigations. There are no indications of third-party fault – that is, fault by other persons – according to police. The Klagenfurt public prosecutor's office has been informed.

The identity of the deceased has not yet been fully released to the public following the conclusion of the police investigations. The responsible authorities assume that all relevant evidence has been secured in order to reconstruct the exact sequence of events.

Reactions and investigations by the authorities

The Klagenfurt-Land district administration and Carinthian water rescue (Wasserrettung Kärnten) were involved in the operation. Lake Wörthersee is particularly heavily frequented during the high season; the recovery of the deceased took place in coordination with the local rescue services.

According to initial information, the German holidaymaker had been visiting Krumpendorf on Lake Wörthersee together with acquaintances. The exact day of arrival and the duration of the stay are not yet known. The German consular authorities were informed of the incident.

The case is part of a series of swimming accidents that have occupied Austria during the summer months. At the beginning of July, the Wasserrettung had pointed to the dangers of swimming under the influence of alcohol, on a full stomach, or after prolonged exposure to the sun.

Local residents and other bathers expressed dismay at the incident. The small municipality on the eastern shore of the lake is geared toward day tourists during the high season; a fatality of this kind has repeatedly sparked discussions about safety at bathing spots in the past.