The Palanga Rescue Service shared condolences on Facebook to the parents, relatives, and friends of the 17-year-old young man who drowned during the tragedy near the bridge in Palanga on Saturday, and provided a chronology of the incident and more details.
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• Initial report: The General Help Center received a report about a person drowning near the bridge in Palanga at 20:11. Initially, it was reported that a man and three children were drowning, later clarified that they were minors and their father. Palanga rescuers received the information at 20:13.
• Rescue operation: Palanga Rescue Service rescuers were immediately dispatched to the scene after receiving the report, with two jet skis and two shore crews with vehicles, who reached the scene within 2-4 minutes.
Rescuers with a jet ski transported one boy from the scene near the bridge piles to the shore, the father with the girl reached the stones near the bridge on their own. Information obtained from the rescued boy indicated that his brother submerged underwater immediately and was not visible on the water surface. Palanga rescuers searched the entire accident area water zone but did not find the young man. Soon, firefighters, medical and police forces joined, divers were involved in the water search.
• Body found: The young man’s body was found at 21:22, 57 meters from the drowning site, at about 3 meters depth, in a hole formed by stones. The arriving medics confirmed his death.
• Cause of the accident: According to witnesses, the family was swimming near the sea bridge, where a strong water current pulled them under the bridge. The sea was not particularly wavy at the time of the incident, but strong currents prevailed.
• Victim’s identity: The drowned person is a 17-year-old Polish citizen. The young man’s parents present at the scene recognized their child pulled from the sea.
Vacationers formed a human chain, tried to find the young man themselves
Rescuers say that immediately after the accident, vacationers on the beach held hands and formed a human chain, trying to wade into the water and find the young man who disappeared in the water.
“Since Saturday evening was warm, thousands of people (estimated by witnesses – up to 10,000 vacationers) watched the dramatic rescue and search operation on the Palanga bridge and coast,” wrote the rescuers.
Reminds what to do in case of an accident
They remind that official rescue posts on beaches are on duty daily from 9:00 to 20:00. The tragedy occurred at 20:11, i.e., 11 minutes after the rescuers finished their shift at the posts, and beach safety was already the responsibility of the vacationers themselves.
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Although the posts close in the evening, the Palanga city rescue station (Žvejų g. 2A) is on duty around the clock. At night, rescuers respond to urgent calls using heavy equipment, boats, and ATVs.
In case of an accident, you can call the direct short number of Palanga rescuers 1509 or the general emergency number 112 on the beach.
Why is the Palanga bridge a particularly dangerous area?
The Palanga city rescue service reminds that safety rules strictly prohibit swimming right next to the Palanga bridge, hydraulic structures, piers, and the stones on them.
According to rescuers, specific, invisible back currents (called “whirlpools”) form near the bridge piles and structures, which can suddenly pull a person into the depths even in calm seas.
Moreover, the stones near the bridge are covered with algae and very slippery. The water depth changes abruptly in this area, and falling from the stones poses a direct risk of injury (hitting the structures) or losing orientation and drowning.
Jumping from the Palanga bridge into the water is strictly prohibited.
“For those who ignore this prohibition, rescuers constantly call the police, and offenders are fined,” the service states.
What do the flag colors mean?
o Red flag: Swimming is strictly prohibited. Police are called and fines imposed for non-compliance.
o Yellow flag: Swimming is dangerous (there may be strong waves or currents).
o Red and yellow flag (together): The beach area is monitored by professional rescuers.
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