Police feared new drowning accident in harbor

Nordsjællands Police and rescue services were present at Helsingør harbor on Sunday morning due to a missing young man, initially fearing a drowning incident. The man was last seen near the harbor front around 6:40 a.m. after being out in the city overnight.

However, the situation had a happy ending. The missing man was found safe and unharmed, having apparently fallen asleep on a bench before returning home. This news relieved authorities who had been concerned about a potential drowning, a risk that is unfortunately common in Danish harbors.

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He had been out in the city tonight and was last seen around 6:40 a.m. by the harbor front.

Drowning accidents in Danish harbors represent a significant portion of the country's total drowning fatalities. A report from 2022 documented 1185 drowning deaths in Denmark between 2001 and 2020, with 263 occurring in harbors. A 2022 conference on harbor safety led to the establishment of an expert group that identified young, intoxicated men as being overrepresented in these statistics, particularly in poorly lit areas with limited safety equipment.

Authorities are urging parents to discuss the dangers of being near harbors at night with their children. This incident in Helsingør concluded positively, but the weekend also saw a tragic event in Middelfart, where an older man was found lifeless in the harbor near his boat. The circumstances leading to his fall remain unclear.

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He is found safe and sound. He had gone to sleep on a bench and has now gone home.