Sad birthday: German vacationer drowns on Lake Garda!

Sad birthday: German vacationer drowns on Lake Garda!

Manerba del Garda, Italien - A tragic accident occurred on Monday, June 3, 2025, on Lake Garda in northern Italy, drowned on his birthday as a 52-year-old German tourist. The man was with his wife at a campsite in Manerba del Garda and wanted to jump into the water shortly after 2 p.m. when he suffered a weakness and passed out. The helpless woman saw the incident and immediately informed the emergency call, but could not prevent her husband from sagging in the water. Despite the quick reaction of the coast guard, which brought the man to the shore, the resuscitation measures were ultimately unsuccessful. The incident occurred in the immediate vicinity of the Zocco campsite, where the temperatures in the water may already have been low enough to trigger a thermal shock.

The Situation on site was dramatic. An emergency doctor, an ambulance and the local police were quickly on hand. The medical-law examinations carried out after the incident confirmed a natural death of the vacationer. The body was handed over to the family in the evening. His wife was in a state of despair because she had to witness her husband drowned in front of her eyes.

thermal shock and his dangers

Experts suspect that the cold water temperatures that can occur on Lake Garda during this time of year may lead to the weakness. A cold shock can arise when the body comes into contact with cold water abruptly, for example when jumping into the water. The resulting temperature difference between body and water can trigger dangerous reflexes, including the diving reflex, which slows down the pulse and heart rate and at the same time stops breathing. Such conditions can be life-threatening, especially for people with existing cardiovascular diseases. The cold shock usually only lasts one to three minutes, but can have fatal consequences and result in a cardiac arrest.

In view of this tragedy, it becomes clear how important the information about the risks when bathing in cold water and the need for precautionary measures to avoid such incidents. One of the recommended prevention methods includes slow adjustment of cold water temperatures and wearing life jackets in water sports. Emergency measures should also be taken into account in the cold shock, in particular that remains calm and calling for help.