Drama in Geneva: an individual disappears in the Rhône

The Fire and Rescue Service (SIS) received a call at 4:16 p.m. this Sunday after a person in difficulty was seen in the waters of the Rhône near the Sentier des Saules. A major intervention system was immediately launched to try to find the individual in question.

Important device deployed

“The witness is categorical, the information he described to us was very clear. We immediately deployed our staff,” describes Nicolas Millot, lieutenant responsible for communications. The witness actually saw an arm protruding from the water.

Ground team, divers, helicopter, Navigation Brigade boat, land patrol downstream… In total, more than 25 rescuers were mobilized. Not to mention an ambulance accompanied by the Mobile Emergency and Resuscitation Service (SMUR): “as is always the case during an intervention of this magnitude,” explains Nicolas Millot.

After forty-five minutes of unsuccessful searches, the device was lifted. Pending possible additional information, the investigation is currently suspended.

The water was very cold

At the end of the afternoon, the temperature of the Rhône was 10.4 degrees, while the mercury was still close to 25 degrees on dry land. Indeed, after a weekend agitated by a strong breeze, the temperature of the Rhône has suddenly dropped by 7 degrees since Friday.

The flow of the river, measured at 500 m3/s before the report, was reduced to less than 100 m3/s at the start of the intervention to facilitate research.

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