Dutch father goes missing in Lake Como after trying to save his son

©Chris Boland via Unsplash

An all-out search is underway on Lake Como in Italy for a 45-year-old Dutch tourist who went missing after trying to save his 16-year-old son. The man was on a rented boat with his three children when a family outing ended in a dramatic rescue operation.

According to initial reports, the oldest son jumped into the water around 12:30 p.m. near Menaggio, in a spot where the lake quickly gets deeper. The boy got into trouble and was unable to swim back to the boat on his own. His father then jumped in after him, but he disappeared underwater and did not resurface.

The two youngest children, aged eight and six, remained on the boat, which was presumably drifting away due to the current. They managed to attract the attention of other boats, after which help was summoned. The 16-year-old son was eventually rescued by a passing boat or water sports enthusiast and brought safely ashore. So far, there has been no sign of the father. Italian emergency services are continuing the search with the fire department, coast guard, and police, while dive teams and other specialized units are also combing the lake. The search is focused on the area around Menaggio, where the depth of Lake Como can increase abruptly, complicating the operation.

The incident underscores how quickly an innocent outing on the water can turn into a life-threatening situation. The family was on vacation and had rented the boat for a day on the lake, but ran into trouble when one of the children fell into the water.

©Chris Boland via Unsplash - illustrative image of a boat on Lake Como.