Mystery of Body Found on German Beach Resolved: Deceased Identified as 94-Year-Old Pole

Authorities have identified the body discovered on the Stubbenfelde beach in Usedom on May 8, 2026, as a 94-year-old Polish man who had been missing since December 2025.

Discovery on Usedom Beach

A dead man was discovered on May 8, 2026, on the beach of Stubbenfelde, located on the island of Usedom. This region sits on the border between the Polish West Pomeranian Voivodeship and the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Upon finding the body, police, medical rescue teams, and the fire department were dispatched to the site. Officers subsequently launched an investigation to establish the victim’s identity and determine the circumstances surrounding his death.

Tragic Ferry Crossing Incident

Two months later, authorities solved the mystery of the death on Usedom. A police spokesperson in Neubrandenburg confirmed that the man had been reported missing since December 28, 2025.

According to the regional portal Ostsee-Zeitung, witnesses reported that the 94-year-old fell overboard from the Unity Line ferry MF Skania, which was traveling from Ystad, Sweden, to Świnoujście.

International Search Operation

The incident occurred approximately 30 kilometers from the island of Rügen. Following the fall, the ship’s captain issued an SOS signal, triggering a multi-national search involving units from Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Poland.

Search vessels from Sassnitz and Greifswalder Oie, along with water police boats and customs ships, participated in the efforts. The operation was called off after several hours due to unsuccessful results and freezing conditions on the Baltic Sea.