Emergency services are searching for an 18-year-old man who went missing after a pedal boat carrying four people capsized in Lake Juksty near Śniadowo on Tuesday, May 19.
Rescue operation at Lake Juksty
Authorities received an emergency call before 7:00 a.m. regarding individuals in the water. Initial reports suggested two people had fallen into the lake, but services later confirmed the incident involved four men aged 18 to 20.
Upon the arrival of police and firefighters, three individuals were found on the shore suffering from hypothermia. Their lives are not currently in danger, but a search for the fourth man continues.
Ongoing search efforts
Specialized units, including divers and a team equipped with sonar from Mrągowo and Olsztyn, are scanning the vast lake area. Support is also being provided by the Masurian Volunteer Search and Rescue Service.
The operation has officially transitioned from a rescue to a search mission under police command. Authorities are currently mapping the lake bottom to guide the deployment of divers.
Drowning statistics and safety
Government Security Center data shows 122 people drowned in Poland between June 27 and September 1, 2025, with most incidents occurring in the Warmian-Masurian, Pomeranian, and West Pomeranian voivodeships. In comparison, 187 people drowned in 2024 and 183 in 2023.
Jarosław Sroka, president of the Masurian Volunteer Search and Rescue Service, noted that the lower number of drownings in 2025 was due to cooler weather. Approximately 90 percent of drowning victims are male.
Officials advise the public to use only guarded swimming areas. Furthermore, swimmers are encouraged to use safety buoys for long distances, while boaters and kayakers are urged to wear life jackets at all times.
