Rescue operation Basel fire department rescues swimmer in the Rhine

The Basel professional fire department rescued a swimmer in distress in the Rhine on Thursday. She had become caught on a buoy with her swimming bag. The woman was rescued by boat, treated as an outpatient by paramedics and released unharmed, according to the cantonal police.

The incident occurred shortly after 2.15 p.m. between the Wettstein Bridge and the Middle Bridge. The rescue and police operations center received reports almost simultaneously that a person was hanging from a buoy and calling for help, according to the communiqué.

The fire department and police boats arrived quickly. The swimmer was unable to free herself under her own power. A member of the professional fire department then jumped into the water from the lifeboat to free the woman from the buoy with the help of another swimmer.

She was then lifted into the boat and brought ashore. The fire department later recovered the floating bag and was able to hand it over to the owner "with dry contents", according to the police.

SDA