A 10-year-old girl disappeared in the Elbe River in front of her parents’ eyes, leading to an intense but ultimately unsuccessful search by rescue teams.
On Thursday evening (August 8), rescue efforts were suspended after a 10-year-old girl went missing in the Elbe River near Hamburg-Blankenese. The incident, which occurred Wednesday afternoon, left rescuers and officials deeply shaken as they were unable to locate the child despite extensive search operations.
The search, which involved around 40 emergency personnel from the fire department and the German Life Saving Association (DLRG), continued until approximately 8:50 p.m. on Thursday, at which point it was called off. A police spokesperson indicated that the efforts would not resume on Friday, expressing the somber belief that the child had drowned. “We are all very affected,” the spokesperson added.
Efforts to find the girl prove unsuccessful
The tragedy began on Thursday afternoon when the girl, who was later identified as being 10 years old, suddenly disappeared under the water while her parents watched helplessly. The fire department reported that the incident occurred “in sight” of the parents, making the situation even more heartbreaking.
Emergency services were alerted just before 4 p.m., prompting a large-scale response. The search area was expanded to cover 400 to 500 meters around the accident site at Falkensteiner Ufer due to the Elbe’s strong currents. The rescue teams employed boats, sonar divers, and a drone in their search, with even a rescue helicopter joining the effort. However, despite these resources, the girl could not be found.
The fire department spokesperson acknowledged the particularly distressing nature of the mission, noting that although water temperatures can sometimes allow for successful resuscitation, the chances of recovery were slim. The parents were provided with emotional support by the emergency counseling service during the search.
