‘He Did Not Hesitate’: British Tourist Missing After Lake Como Rescue Attempt to Save Father and Son
LAKE COMO, Italy — A British tourist who vanished in Lake Como after diving in to rescue a father and son is being hailed as a hero by Italian officials, as authorities prepare to search for his body in waters considered too deep for divers.
Prasant Dahal, 37, jumped into the lake Monday, Sept. 21, around 1:30 p.m. local time after a 16-year-old boy and his father began struggling in the water, according to The Times, The Telegraph and the BBC. The family friend disappeared beneath the surface and has not been seen since. He is presumed to have drowned.
The group had been out on the water and was unable to make it back to their boat because of strong winds, The Times reported. The father and son were later pulled from the lake by a passing boat, brought to shore and treated for hypothermia, the outlets said.
The Italian Coast Guard, state police and fire department assisted in the search for Dahal. A Coast Guard official told The Times that Dahal acted without hesitation.
“Dahal had immediately entered the water to save his friends, he did not hesitate,” the official said. “It was the gesture of a hero, but by doing so he sacrificed his own life.”
The official added: “We save people because it’s our job, but he tried to save his friends out of sheer selflessness.”
In a statement shared with The Times and the BBC, the British embassy in Rome said: “We are supporting the family of a British national missing in Italy and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Officials said every effort would be made to recover Dahal’s body. Because the water is too deep for divers in the area where he disappeared, two undersea drones may be used to search, according to the reports.
The search highlights the risks that can linger in Lake Como’s waters even during warm weather. Local officials said the lake can be deceptively cold on a hot summer day, and its depth can complicate rescue and recovery efforts.
The case also adds to a grim summer on the lake: six people have died there this summer, according to The Times and The Telegraph. Lake Como is a popular destination in northern Italy, drawing visitors for its scenery and waterfront towns, but its alpine waters can quickly turn dangerous.
The Italian Coast Guard, the British embassy in Rome and the Como Fire Brigade Command did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
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