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A British tourist has gone missing in Lake Como after entering the water to help a teenage boy and his father who were reportedly struggling while swimming, triggering a major search operation involving Italian coastguard crews, firefighters, divers and specialist underwater equipment.
The man, reported by UK media to be 37, disappeared at about lunchtime on Monday, 21 September, in waters off San Siro, on the western side of Lake Como in Italy's Lombardy region. Local reports say he had been aboard a rented boat with friends when the emergency unfolded about 600 metres from the shoreline.
Italian news agency ANSA reported the missing tourist as 38, highlighting a discrepancy in early reports over his age. It said he had been swimming alongside the 15-year-old son of a family of friends when both encountered difficulties.
According to local reports, the boy's father entered the water to help his son and the British man. He managed to assist his son, while the British tourist disappeared beneath the surface.
The father and teenage boy were subsequently recovered by a passing boat and were reported to be showing early signs of hypothermia. They were transferred to a coastguard vessel and taken towards the San Siro landing point, where ambulances were waiting.
The boy's mother and his younger brother had remained aboard the rented boat. Italian authorities later assisted them and brought them safely to shore.
The emergency response was coordinated by the Milan Coast Guard Operations Department, with the Italian Fire Brigade, Guardia di Finanza and State Police also involved in the search.
Firefighters deployed a helicopter from Milan carrying specialist divers, while rescue vessels searched the surface waters.
The depth of Lake Como in the area has created a significant challenge for rescuers. Local authorities reported depths ranging from around 150 metres to more than 200 metres, with some reports putting the relevant lakebed at more than 250 metres.
Following an initial assessment, specialist teams determined that remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) would be required to conduct a deeper search.
The Coast Guard has requested additional specialist diving personnel from San Benedetto del Tronto to assist with the operation, while underwater search equipment is being prepared.
Surface searches have involved multiple agencies covering waters between San Siro, Dervio, Bellano and Menaggio, according to local reporting.
The identity of the missing British man had not been officially released by UK authorities in the reports available at the time of publication.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said the UK was supporting the family of a British national missing in Italy and remained in contact with local authorities.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated by Italian authorities, including officers examining the rented vessel and reconstructing what happened immediately before the emergency.
The search operation comes as rescuers face difficult conditions in one of Europe's deepest lakes.
Local reports said the missing man was last seen entering the water after the teenage boy and his father encountered difficulties. The father and son were brought to safety, but the British tourist did not return to the surface.
Authorities have not announced that the missing man has been found, and the search remains ongoing.
For the man's family and friends, the operation continues as specialist teams prepare to use underwater technology capable of searching depths that are beyond the practical operating range of conventional divers.
Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that the search is being coordinated by Italian emergency services, with British consular officials maintaining contact with the man's family as authorities continue efforts to locate him.
