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Teenager drowns in Jurbarkas reservoir; locals cite dangers
๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡น Lithuania /Disasters & Emergencies

Teenager drowns in Jurbarkas reservoir; locals cite dangers

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A teenager drowned in a reservoir in Jurbarkas, Lithuania, while swimming with his brother.
  • Rescue efforts were hampered by difficult access to the site, requiring divers from Kaunas to locate the body.
  • Local residents described the reservoir as dangerous, despite its popularity for swimming, and noted the victim was chasing a swept-away fishing float.

A tragic incident unfolded at a reservoir in Jurbarkas, Lithuania, where a teenager drowned during a late summer swim. The young man, who was months away from his 18th birthday, was with his brother when the accident occurred.

The arriving forces could not get to the site. We carried the boat for half a kilometer, and after entering the water, we couldn't find the body for a long time.

โ€” Donatas MartinkeviฤiusActing head of the Jurbarkas Fire and Rescue Service, describing the challenges of the rescue operation.

Emergency services faced significant challenges reaching the drowning victim. Firefighters received the call around 7:30 p.m. and had to carry their boat for nearly half a kilometer due to the difficult terrain. "The arriving forces could not get to the site. We carried the boat for half a kilometer, and after entering the water, we couldn't find the body for a long time," stated Donatas Martinkeviฤius, acting head of the Jurbarkas Fire and Rescue Service.

Local residents expressed shock and sorrow over the event. "A disaster. He was supposed to go to school. It's bad for the parents, the children, the brothers," said Robertas, a local. Vilma, another resident, added, "It's scary, very scary. I almost cried. It's cruel, it's scary."

A disaster. He was supposed to go to school. It's bad for the parents, the children, the brothers.

โ€” RobertasA local resident expressing grief over the teenager's death.

The reservoir's depth necessitated calling for specialized assistance. A dive team from Kaunas, equipped for deeper water, was required. They located the body around 11 p.m., approximately 30 meters from the shore at a depth of 2.5 meters. This marks the first drowning incident in Jurbarkas's waters this year.

It's scary, very scary. I almost cried. It's cruel, it's scary.

โ€” VilmaA local resident reacting to the drowning incident.

Locals described the reservoir as dangerous, despite being a popular spot for swimmers. They noted the area where the incident occurred is remote and difficult to access. Some recalled seeing children swim across the reservoir the previous year. Residents believe the teenager drowned while attempting to retrieve a fishing float that had been carried away by the current. Despite appearing shallow in places, the water's depth is deceptive. "It's muddy, overgrown with weeds. People have been swimming here for ages, nothing happened, but this is a terrible accident," said Robertas.

It's muddy, overgrown with weeds. People have been swimming here for ages, nothing happened, but this is a terrible accident.

โ€” RobertasA local resident commenting on the reservoir's conditions and the tragic event.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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