British man missing after diving into Lake Como to save father and son
Italian rescuers are searching Lake Como for a British man who disappeared after jumping into the water to save two swimmers in distress. The father and son were rescued, but the man himself was not seen resurfacing.
Italian authorities are continuing a search operation on Lake Como for a missing British national. The man reportedly dived into the water on Monday afternoon to help a father and son who were struggling while swimming near the San Siro municipality on the lake's western shore.
According to Italian media, the man and the family he was friends with had been on a boating trip at the time. The father and son were later rescued by another passing boat, but the man who went in after them was not seen resurfacing.
The UK Foreign Office said it is supporting the family of the missing British national and remains in contact with local authorities. Emergency responders at the scene include a helicopter, divers and boat units. Italian news agency Ansa reports the lake's depth in that area can exceed 200 metres.
Local news outlet Qui Como reports that rescuers are preparing to deploy two underwater robots to scan the lake bed in areas too deep for divers to reach.
How events unfolded
The alarm was raised around 13:30 local time by the mother of the teenager, who was on a rented boat about 600m from shore with her other child. The man, described as being in his late 30s, dived in after the father and son began to sink and was not seen resurfacing. The mother then called emergency services.
The father and son received medical treatment for early signs of hypothermia.
Lake Como, located roughly 30 miles north of Milan, is a popular tourist destination that drew more than 78,000 foreign visitors in 2024. However, water temperatures in the lake begin to drop from September onward.
