Police continue search for man missing from Saimaa sailing boat

Police in Southeastern Finland have not found a young man who fell from a sailing boat into Lake Saimaa near Taipalsaari on Saturday evening, Yle reports.

The man fell into the water at about 9.30pm. He was not wearing a life jacket.

Police searched for him until 1.30am on the night between Saturday and Sunday and resumed the search on Sunday morning. On Monday, the search is continuing from the air.

Police are treating the case as a missing-person investigation. Petri Korpisammal, the detective chief inspector leading the investigation, declined to comment on whether police believe the man is still alive.

The boat was carrying three young men. The man at the helm, who fell overboard, had previous experience of sailing.

The group had spent the day boating on Lake Saimaa and was practising sailing together. According to police, the wind was strong at the time, at approximately 9 to 12 metres per second. Based on current information, the boat was sailing on a broad reach when it suddenly heeled, causing the man at the helm to fall overboard.