RESCUE DIVERS: It was rescue divers who finally found father and son at a depth of eight metres. Photo: Marius Kalleberg Mydland
The married couple Laila (54) and Peter Quint (59) were the first to discover that the family had difficulties in getting their son ashore.
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The married couple Laila (54) and Peter Quint (59) witnessed the drowning accident in Lyngdal, where a father died during the rescue operation and his son died in hospital a few days later. The married couple Quint live on the other side of the river and were the first on the scene. They contacted emergency services and tried to help in the search. It has been a difficult summer for the small southern municipality of Lyngdal, with two drowning accidents and a plane crash. Show more
– I think of things I could do differently, says Peter Quint.
It was the newspaper The friend of the fatherland who spoke to Quint first.
Peter and his wife Laila Quint live on the other side of the river Lygna, where there was a drowning accident on Monday at the popular bathing spot Presthølen.
A father died during the rescue operation, while the son died in hospital a few days later. The family was of Syrian origin, but resided in Lyngdal, Lyngdal municipality stated in a press release earlier this week.
THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT: The view from the couple’s house and across to the swimming area. Photo: Private
– It was really quite by chance that I caught it, says Laila Quint, who looked out of the window and observed a mother and son wading in the surface of the water.
– Suddenly I see that the father jumped with all the clothes and lifted himself into the water. Then I quickly realized something was wrong.
Laila saw that the mother managed to swim to shore, while the father tried to save his son who had disappeared under water.
– She stood on the beach with both arms in the air and shouted for help. She was absolutely distraught! I think she saw me and I signaled back that I had seen her.
WENT FAST: Father and son were found by rescue divers after 43 minutes. Photo: Marius Kalleberg Mydland
– In shock
Peter Quint says that he reacted quickly and jumped out to help. Peter and Laila’s son called 113.
Laila got hold of several neighbours, before she went back to the veranda and signaled to her husband out in the water where she saw bubbles on the surface of the water.
Peter says that it was almost impossible to see anything while swimming:
– Besides, it was so deep, and the water so dark. I couldn’t see anything. I was also a bit in shock, so I tried my best, he says.
MANY PARTICIPATED: Many neighbors participated in the initial phase of the rescue operation. Photo: Marius Kalleberg Mydland
Helpless
The nearest police patrol happened to be only a few minutes away, and quickly joined the search. By now several neighbors had also arrived at the scene of the accident.
– After half an hour, several ambulances, police, helicopter and rescue divers were on the scene. It went quite quickly, says Laila.
Father and son were found after 43 minutes.
Laila says that she has never felt so helpless:
– You see that no matter what you do, you can’t do it. We know they are at the bottom, but what are we going to do? How are we going to find them? It was absolutely terrible!
Draft depth
The couple say that the swimming area below the house has increased in popularity in recent years. In the past, it was mostly locals who visited the beach, but now people from out of town also come.
– The water becomes very deep only a few meters from the beach. On some beaches you can walk out 100 metres, but not here. Here it suddenly becomes 8 meters deep and only three meters out, says Peter, and adds:
– It should have been signposted here, with a small map describing how deep it will be. Not everyone knows about this, he says.
In retrospect, he has thought a lot about what he could have done differently.
– I have previously been a sports diver. Had I had diving equipment which I know I have in the past, I might have been able to get to the bottom and save them. It’s all very sad, he says.
Acting mayor of Lyngdal, Jon-Are Åmland (KrF), boasts of residents in the area and witnesses who acted quickly.
– I am incredibly impressed and have to say a big thank you to those who were quick to start a search. It is incredibly important that it is done in such a phase. They have made a fantastic effort and that deserves respect, says Åmland to Fædrelandsvennen.
The deputy mayor tells the local newspaper that they have assessed that the bathing area is safe and that they are keeping it open as normal.
– Until now, we have focused on supporting and helping the next of kin. Then you can see whether there is a basis for taking any action, he says.
MORE ACCIDENTS: A microplane crashed in the terrain in Lyngdal earlier this summer. Photo: Marius Kalleberg Mydland
Several accidents in a short time
It has been a difficult summer for Lyngdal. The small southern municipality has been affected by two drowning accidents and a plane crash.
– Lyngdal is not such a big place. Many people are affected by such incidents, says Åmland to VG.
The municipality west of Lindesnes has just over 10,000 inhabitants.
– It has been a difficult time for many. The latest incident in particular has made a strong impression, says Åmland about the drowning accident in which father and son died.
Info
The summer of accidents in the Lister area
July 31: A five-year-old gets lost at the swimming area in Lygna in Lyngdal. The father rushes in to save him. Three quarters of an hour later, both are found at a depth of eight metres.
July 26th: A sport plane crashes in Dalekniben in Lyngdal. The two on board alert the emergency services. They have stolen the small double-decker at Lista airport. They have never flown before.
24th July: Four crab fishermen collide in the dark with a sea mark outside Korshavn in Lyngdal.
Stian Alexander Stene Slotte (37) dies in the accident. The man in his 30s who drove the boat has been charged with negligent homicide.
The neighboring municipality of Farsund has also been affected by tragedies this summer:
27. June: The police receive a report that a kiter in open water is struggling to get ashore in Farsund. The man in his 50s is pronounced dead on the way to the hospital.
June 7: A girl is found lifeless on the ground in the municipal kindergarten in Farsund. The police emphasize that there is no indication that anyone has been negligent.
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Published: 05.08.23 at 12:53 p.m
Updated: 05.08.23 at 13:19
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2023-08-05 10:53:27
#Laila #Peter #Quint #drowning #accident #Lyngdal
