Father drowns trying to save son in Stockholm

A father has died after jumping into the water in Hökarängen, southern Stockholm, in a desperate attempt to save his son.

The man, in his 40s, was rushed to the hospital by emergency services on Wednesday afternoon after the incident near a footbridge. Police confirmed his death later that evening.

According to Peter Karlsson, unit manager at Farsta fire station, the father entered the water when his son fell in while they were playing on the footbridge. "The father jumps in to get the child up but does not succeed," Karlsson told Mitt i.

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The father jumps in to get the child up but does not succeed.

A woman who witnessed the event managed to rescue both the father and son from the water and alerted emergency services. The child sustained no serious injuries.

Following the tragedy, the Farsta fire station returned to the scene to inspect the safety of the footbridge. "We wanted to see if it's a safety issue. We went there and did an inspection of how it looks in terms of safety, if any measures are needed," Karlsson said. The inspection revealed two openings in the fence leading to deep water.

Farsta city administration, responsible for the footbridge, also inspected the site and found that a lifebuoy was missing its rope, which is to be rectified. The incident highlights concerns about safety at the location.

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We wanted to see if it's a safety issue. We went there and did an inspection of how it looks in terms of safety, if any measures are needed.