11. 06. 12. - 15:18
Divers spark rescue alert in Klagenfurt
Two divers who decided to go underwater in an area of the Wörthersee in Klagenfurt where diving was banned sparked a full-scale rescue alert at the weekend.
An eyewitness spotted the two going underwater and after some time when they had not surfaced he called police and rescue services.
They were quickly on the scene with the police about but failed to find the divers and fire service rescue divers were then called in and were also unable to spot the three.
Police found the divers clothing on the bank and eventually watches on a nearby bridge spotted the divers under the bridge and raised the alarm.
The fire brigade divers then swam down to the two and ordered them to return to the surface.
The ban is because it is extremely dark in the region and easy to get lost or come to the surface where it is dangerous.
Heinz Kernjak head of the local water rescue service said that despite the fact it was a false alarm it was much better to have been informed and to have investigated than to have left it on the off chance that it might have been a genuine rescue needed.
He said that he wouldn't go as far as to brand the two negligent but he said they certainly did not act very intelligently and not in a very professional way.
The two divers who were not named for privacy reasons declined to comment other than for one of them to say that they had not seen a sign telling them that diving was forbidden.
