A 37-year-old British tourist, identified as Prasant Dahal, is missing and presumed drowned after diving into Lake Como on Sept. 21 to rescue a 16-year-old and the boy’s father. The father and son were later rescued by a passing boat and treated for hypothermia. Italian authorities, including the Coast Guard and local fire brigade, are conducting searches and may deploy undersea drones because the area is too deep for divers. The British embassy is supporting Dahal’s family while recovery efforts continue.
British Tourist Presumed Drowned After Diving Into Lake Como to Rescue Teen and Father
Lake ComoCredit: Getty
A British tourist is missing and presumed drowned after he dove into Lake Como in northern Italy on Sept. 21 to help a 16-year-old boy and the boy's father, local authorities and media report.
The man, identified by The Times as 37-year-old Prasant Dahal, a family friend visiting the area, entered the water at about 1:30 p.m. after the father and son began struggling. Strong winds prevented the group from returning to their boat, and Dahal disappeared beneath the surface while attempting the rescue.
A passing boat later pulled the father and son from the water; both were taken ashore and treated for hypothermia. Search teams from the Italian Coast Guard, state police and the local fire brigade immediately launched operations to locate Dahal.
Lake ComoCredit: Getty
“Dahal had immediately entered the water to save his friends, he did not hesitate,” a Coast Guard official told The Times. “It was the gesture of a hero, but by doing so he sacrificed his own life.”
Officials said the section of Lake Como where Dahal disappeared is too deep for safe diving operations, and undersea drones may be deployed to help locate him. Authorities also warned that the lake's water can be deceptively cold even on warm days, a factor that can rapidly worsen a struggling swimmer's condition.
Local reporting notes that six people have died in Lake Como this summer. The British embassy in Rome said it is supporting the family and remains in contact with Italian authorities as search efforts continue.
Multiple agencies—including the Italian Coast Guard, state police and the Como Fire Brigade—were involved in the response. Media outlets and officials have provided updates, and recovery operations are ongoing.
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