Tourist found dead in river pool at Stuðlagil

A foreign man in his 30s was found dead in a pool in the Jökulsá river near Stuðlagil on Monday evening after falling into the river, mbl.is reported. Police are investigating the death as an accident.

Divers found the man’s body at around 10pm, a short distance from where he had fallen, according to Kristmundur Stefán Einarsson, chief superintendent with the East Iceland police.

Police received the report at 1.15pm, prompting a large search operation. About 100 people took part, most of them members of rescue teams from East Iceland. A helicopter from the Icelandic Coast Guard also joined the search, carrying swiftwater rescue specialists from teams in the Reykjavík area.

The body was found in a pool at a depth of three to four metres. The search was focused on that location because it was considered the most likely place to find him.

“There are pools and rapids alternating there, but the man fell into the river on its eastern side,” Kristmundur told mbl.is.

The man was travelling with a group but was not part of an organised tour operated by a tourism company. Police are speaking to witnesses, and an autopsy will be carried out to establish the cause of death.

This was the second fatal accident at Stuðlagil. In October 2024, a foreign woman in her 30s died after falling into the river.