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Senior Perishes in Water While Rescuing Defective Toy Boat Belonging to Grandchild

25-09-2025


A 72-year-old man from Baden-Württemberg died Tuesday afternoon while attempting to retrieve his five-year-old grandson's defective toy boat from the Starnberger See in Bavaria. The incident occurred around 4:10 p.m. at a pier in the Feldafing district of Garatshausen, where the grandfather had been visiting his daughter and playing with his grandson as he had done frequently in the past.

According to police reports, the senior entered the water when the remote-controlled toy boat malfunctioned and began drifting on the lake surface. Witnesses later observed the man's lifeless body floating in the water and immediately pulled him to shore, where resuscitation attempts were initiated. Despite these efforts, the 72-year-old could not be revived and died at the scene.

The five-year-old grandson was cared for by witnesses and emergency services personnel before being handed over to relatives. Police investigators have stated they are treating the case as a tragic accident, with no indications of third-party involvement currently evident. The criminal police in Fürstenfeldbruck have opened an investigation to determine the exact cause of death.

Notably, the water depth at the accident site measures only 1.5 meters, making drowning an unlikely primary cause of death according to initial assessments. Investigators suspect the man may have experienced a sudden health emergency, such as a heart attack, while in the water attempting to retrieve the toy vessel.