The body of a ‘hero’ British father who jumped from a boat to save his son has been discovered in a popular tourist lake in Italy, more than three weeks after he went missing.
Aran Chada, 51, was on holiday with his family last month when he drowned in Lake Garda.
The incident happened on July 22 and his body was found Tuesday afternoon by volunteers with underwater drones, according to the local coast guard.
It was discovered at a depth of 316 meters (1,036 feet) and about 800 meters (2,624 feet) from the coast, near the tourist town of Limone.
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The city of Limone by Lake Garda. File image: AP
Sales manager Mr Chada had rented a boat with his two children and partner Holly Mosley, 39, on the lake.
They were about 500 meters (1,640 feet) from shore when their 14-year-old son had trouble in the waterso he dove in and managed to push him overboard to save him, the coast guard said.
Mr Chada then got into trouble and slipped underwater, prompting a major search.
The coastguard said the drowning was “probably caused by an illness following Mr Chada’s rescue of the first child, who was in danger”.
After the tragedy, he had said he believed he might have suffered a heat shock seizure.
Temperatures were around 38C, but the water was “about 10 degrees colder”.
Coast Guard Commander Antonello Ragadale said at the time that he was a “hero” and that authorities were doing everything possible to find him.
The search began after Mr Chada’s wife raised the alarm by calling the international emergency number 112, and had continued without interruption, apart from a few days when bad weather halted work.
There has been at least seven dead in the lake in one month.
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His body was discovered by volunteers. Photo: Coast Guard
The coast guard has coordinated the operation, in which the police, a helicopter and naval diving and fire teams equipped with sonar and remote-controlled vehicles have participated.
He was due to celebrate his birthday on holiday and his family, who are now back in England, have been informed of the discovery of his body.
A resident of the village of Woodhouse Eaves, near Loughborough, who declined to be named, said after Mr Chada’s disappearance: “They have been part of the village for years. It is very, very tragic.”
Another man, who has known the family for many years, said it was “heartbreaking”.
According to his LinkedIn page, Mr. Chada worked for Global Energy Ventures, a company that services oil fields in Africa.
The Foreign Office said in a statement: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in northern Italy and are in contact with the local authorities.”