Experienced diver dies in a dramatic dive accident on Lake Attersee

Experienced diver dies in a dramatic dive accident on Lake Attersee

Steinbach am Attersee, Österreich - On June 16, 2025, a tragic diving accident occurred at the Attersee in Upper Austria, in which an experienced 59-year-old diver from Poland died. The incident happened at the "Black Bridge" diving point in Steinbach am Attersee, where three experienced divers prepared for a dive at a depth of 70 meters. During the dive, the 43-year-old diver had problems with his ears at a depth of 10 meters, whereupon he slowly climbed to about 50 meters. The other two divers, on the other hand, reached the full depth of 70 meters before climbing 50 meters.

When the 59-year-old suddenly passed out, the 52-year-old diver immediately introduced an emergency level. Despite immediate resuscitation attempts on land by the emergency doctor of the rescue helicopter, which lasted over 30 minutes, only the death of the man could be determined at 1:30 p.m. The public prosecutor has ordered the implementation of an autopsy to clarify the exact circumstances of the incident, reports fireworld.at.

emergency management when diving

accidents in diving, such as the tragic incident in the Attersee, are not always avoidable. Nevertheless, prudent action can be decisive in emergencies. According to [dauchen.de] (https://www. daycare.de/wissen/notfallmanagement-beim- daumwas-un-fall-dfalles/), 60 to 80 percent of all diving accidents are due to human failure. It is recommended to carry out dives only within personal limits and only in the case of physical and mental suitability.

Good preparation, including the implementation of Buddy checks in front of each dive, can help minimize risks. In addition, the communication method and the emergency procedures should be discussed in advance for each dive. If an emergency occurs, quick measures at the scene of the accident are of crucial importance: the respiratory tract must be checked and an emergency call will be discontinued.

The importance of diving security

statistics show that too much weight under water is a common problem. According to PADI, false weight distribution can lead to serious difficulties in both new and experienced divers. A good tariff not only increases the safety level, but also the comfort in the water.

In order to avoid serious consequences such as injuries or even deaths, it is crucial to practice the tariff techniques regularly and to stick to checklists. These may also be carried in dives to ensure that all essential points are observed.