From BBC News · · 1m 40s
British man missing after Lake Como rescue dive
A 37-year-old British tourist vanished while trying to save a father and son from distress in Italy's Lake Como.
In brief
A 37-year-old British tourist vanished while trying to save a father and son from distress in Italy's Lake Como. A British man in his late thirties went missing after diving into Lake Como to rescue two people in distress; the father and son were saved, but he has not been found despite an extensive search involving…
British man vanishes in Lake Como
A 37-year-old British tourist went missing Monday after diving into Lake Como to rescue a father and 16-year-old son who were struggling in the water near the western shore.
The rescue that went wrong
The man was on a boating trip with the family when he spotted them in distress and jumped in to help. The father and son were rescued by a passing boat, but the man sank beneath the surface.
Massive search underway
Italian authorities deployed helicopters, divers, and boat units from multiple agencies. Two underwater robots are being prepared to scan the lake bed, which reaches depths over 250 meters in the search area.
Family witnessed the tragedy
The teenager's mother, who stayed on the boat with her younger son, called emergency services when she saw the man sinking. The father and son were treated for hypothermia after being rescued.
Dangerous conditions on Lake Como
Lake Como, located 30 miles north of Milan, is a popular tourist destination but water temperatures begin dropping in September. The lake's depth can exceed 250 meters, complicating rescue efforts.
UK Foreign Office responds
The British government said it is supporting the missing man's family and coordinating with Italian authorities. The search continues as of the latest reports.
“We are supporting the family of a British national missing in Italy and are in contact with the local authorities.”
In short
A British man in his late thirties went missing after diving into Lake Como to rescue two people in distress; the father and son were saved, but he has not been found despite an extensive search involving helicopters, divers, and underwater robots.
