01. 07. 10. - 16:00
Missing Lake Neusiedl sailor had heart attack
A Lower Austrian who was found after a four-day search at Lake Neusiedl died from a heart attack, it has been announced.
Police in Illmitz, Burgenland, said today (Thurs) an autopsy has revealed that the 61-year-old sailor suffered a fatal heart attack before plunging into the water last Friday.
His body was discovered floating in the water on Tuesday. Dozens of police officers and divers took part in a search for the man after another sailor reported the sighting of a boat with just a dog on it.
Local authorities foul play could be ruled out as the body showed only minor outer injuries he probably suffered as he fell overboard.
It was the second heart attack fatality at Austria’s biggest lake – which is no more than 1.80 metres deep – within four weeks as a 60-year-old Tyrolean died in the same way in early June.
Pals of the Kufstein resident managed to drag him back on board quickly after he collapsed and plunged into the water, but failed to resuscitate him.