The affected persons are of Syrian nationality and live in Lyngdal.
Father (42) was confirmed dead on Monday evening.
The son (5) was flown to Haukeland Hospital in Bergen. The condition of the boy was described as serious.
– The son’s condition has remained unchanged since yesterday. Healthcare personnel work continuously to provide the necessary medical help and support to the family during this difficult time, the press release states.
Under water for 43 minutes
Jan Åge Sakariassen, police station chief in Farsund and Lyngdal police station district, confirms that father and son were retrieved from the water after 42-43 minutes.
They were found in the same place, at a depth of eight metres.
The police station chief praises the efforts of bathers who witnessed the incident.
– Bathers who were present made a great effort before the police arrived. They brought diving masks and flippers home and contributed to the search, says Sakariassen, adding:
– That contribution was extremely important. They have helped save lives.
Jan Åge Sakariassen in the police says that the efforts of bathers helped save lives.
Photo: Heidi Ditlefsen / NRK
Father jumped after his son
– The preliminary picture we have from witness descriptions is that a child was lost under water and that an adult man jumped into the water to save the child.
This was said by police station chief Jan Åge Sakariassen on Monday evening.
On Monday at 16:37, the first report came from the police that the emergency services were on their way to Presthølen in Lyngdal following a report of a possible drowning accident.
A surface search, an air search with an ambulance helicopter and a search with divers from the fire service were launched.
It was later confirmed that the two involved were a child and a man.
Helicopter on site.
Photo: MARIUS KALLEBERG MYDLAND
– A difficult situation
– After a search, both were found and life-saving first aid was administered. Unfortunately, life was not there to save the man, said Sakariassen.
The police task leader at the scene, Arnt Helge Dragland, said that witnesses went into the water to search for the people involved.
– Deep water and poor visibility created a difficult situation. Eventually rescue divers arrived. Then they were found fairly quickly, Dragland said.
Operations leader in the police, Arnt Helge Dragland.
Photo: Kai Stokkeland / NRK
– Invaluable effort
The relatives are taken care of by the municipality’s crisis team.
– Lyngdal is no bigger than that many people know many people. This has happened at a much-used bathing area. Bathers participated in the search in the first phase. It is clear that this is difficult for all of us.
This is what the deputy mayor of Lyngdal, Jon-Are Åmland, tells NRK.
– In the first instance, the focus is on the next of kin and immediate family. Eventually, we will assess whether we should do something in relation to those who have been present, and others who need more support and help, says Åmland.
He says that the efforts of witnesses at the scene have been invaluable.
– I would like to thank those who were present, who took hold and contributed what they could. I know that it has been a dramatic experience for those who were present, he says.
Jon Are Åmland, deputy mayor of Lyngdal, says that the relatives are looked after by the municipality’s crisis team.
Photo: Heidi Ditlefsen / NRK
The village is marked
Recently, several serious incidents have occurred in Lyngdal.
– Now we have had three serious incidents in a short time and it affects a small village like Lyngdal, says Sakariassen in the police.
On Wednesday last week, a stolen microplane crashed in the Dalekniben hill area in Lyngdal.
The week before, on the night of Monday 24 July, a man died after a boating accident outside Korshavn in Lyngdal.
2023-08-01 10:36:40
#Father #son #involved #drowning #accident
