British Tourist Missing in Lake Como After Rescuing Swimmers from Water

The incident began at about 1:30 p.m. local time, roughly 600 meters (2,000 feet) from the shore near San Siro, while the group was swimming from a chartered boat.
The missing man was reportedly traveling with a family made up of two adults and two children; the 42-year-old mother stayed aboard the boat with her younger child and called emergency services after the father and teenage son got into trouble.
After rescuing the father and son, authorities brought them first to a Coast Guard boat and then to the San Siro pier, where two ambulances were waiting; Italy’s Guardia di Finanza separately brought the mother and younger child ashore for medical treatment.
The search was coordinated by the Milan Coast Guard Operations Department, and local reports said rescuers were preparing to deploy two remotely operated underwater vehicles to search the lake bed at depths of more than 250 meters.
A 37-year-old British tourist is missing in Lake Como after diving in to rescue a father and teenage son who were struggling in the water near San Siro on Monday afternoon. The Sun reports that the man, identified as Prasant Dahal, jumped in without hesitation when the pair got into trouble about 600 meters from shore. The father and 16-year-old boy were rescued by a passing boat and treated for hypothermia, but Dahal never resurfaced.
Italian authorities launched a massive search involving helicopters, divers, and boats across the deep lake. Yahoo News notes that rescuers are preparing to deploy remotely operated underwater vehicles to search depths exceeding 250 meters. The UK Foreign Office said it is supporting Dahal's family and remains in contact with Italian authorities coordinating the search.
The incident unfolded around 1:30 p.m. local time when a chartered boat group was swimming near San Siro. The father and his teenage son suddenly got into difficulty in the water. People Magazine reports that Dahal "did not hesitate" before diving in to help them. A passing boat rescued both the father and son, who showed signs of hypothermia.
The 42-year-old mother had stayed aboard the chartered boat with her younger child. She called emergency services when she realized her husband and teenage son were in trouble. Authorities brought the rescued pair first to a Coast Guard boat, then to San Siro pier where two ambulances waited. The mother and younger child were brought ashore separately for medical treatment.
Lake Como's extreme depth poses a major challenge for rescuers. The lake exceeds 200 meters deep in the area where Dahal disappeared, making traditional search methods difficult. The Milan Coast Guard Operations Department coordinated the initial response, deploying helicopters and diving teams across the water.
As days passed without finding Dahal, authorities prepared to bring in advanced technology. Local reports indicated rescuers were staging two remotely operated underwater vehicles to search the lake bed at depths over 250 meters. These unmanned submersibles can explore areas too deep and dangerous for human divers to reach safely.
The UK Foreign Office announced it is actively supporting Dahal's family during the crisis. Officials said they are maintaining regular contact with Italian authorities and coordinating efforts on the British side. Family members are receiving consular assistance as the search continues.
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