Search continues for man who fell from sailboat in Taipalsaari

Searches continued on Sunday for an adult man who fell from a sailboat into Lake Saimaa in Taipalsaari on Saturday evening, Yle reported. Police and rescue services were checking islands and skerries in the hope that he had reached shore.

“The situation is still ongoing and the search continues,” said Jukka Tylli, a senior superintendent with the Southeast Finland Police Department. The search is focused on areas east and northeast of Taipalsaari. The man fell into the water near Niittynen island in southern Saimaa.

Police have not ruled out the possibility that he reached one of the nearby islands or skerries. Tylli said the search would not continue if there were no possibility of finding him.

Police and rescue service boats are taking part in the operation. There are currently no indications that alcohol or drugs played a role in the incident.

Three people were aboard the sailboat when one of them fell into the water without a life jacket. The rescue service took the two remaining people aboard its boat and towed the sailboat to a nearby island. The overnight search was suspended at about 1.30am on Sunday.

The rescue service recommends wearing a life jacket whenever travelling on the water, even for short or familiar journeys.