A fatal diving accident occurred on Thursday afternoon in the municipality of Steinbach am Attersee (Vöcklabruck district): a 59-year-old was found floating lifeless in the water. The man died at the scene of the accident, the police said in the evening. The exact background was still unclear.
Accident in the “Black Bridge” area
All that was known at the moment was that the Pole and two other compatriots had gone diving in Lake Attersee around 4 p.m. The trio went into the water at the “Black Bridge” entry point. Two group members planned a dive to a depth of around 100 meters, the 59-year-old only wanted to dive to 50 meters.
There may have been problems. Another Polish diving group, which was traveling in the area at the same time, became aware of the diver floating motionless in the water, pulled him to shore and alerted the rescue team. Attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful: the 59-year-old died at the scene of the accident, the police announced in the evening.
Up to 169 meters deep
The Attersee is considered the largest lake that is located entirely within Austria. It is particularly popular with divers because the water reaches a depth of up to 169 meters. Experts estimate that around 200,000 dives are carried out in Lake Attersee every year. Diving takes place all year round.
The two entry points “Ofen” and the “Black Bridge” located around 500 meters away in the municipality of Steinbach are notorious for fatal diving accidents. The bottom there is around 130 meters deep. Because of the depth and it Due to its level of difficulty, the Black Bridge has often been the scene of fatal accidents; wooden crosses line the bank. A memorial and information boards have also been set up at the entry point as a warning. Years ago there was even discussion about closing the diving site.
