Accident Overview
On the morning of 25 September 2024, a fisherman was alone on Lake Hjälmaren in Örebro County, Sweden, tending to his fishing nets. For an unknown reason, he fell overboard. The boat, an open plastic vessel powered by a 40 hp outboard motor, continued away from him and began circling until its fuel was depleted. The unmanned boat was observed from shore, prompting a rescue operation. After the boat was recovered, data from its chart plotter allowed authorities to estimate where the fisherman had fallen, focusing the search there. Approximately five hours after the fall, the fisherman's body was located at a depth of six meters, near the area where the boat had started to circle. The body was not wearing a life jacket or any other flotation device.
Findings
The investigation revealed that the boat had been built according to CE-marking regulations for leisure craft but did not fully comply with those rules. It had been modified to some extent, including the installation of fishing equipment and the removal of handles. The Swedish Transport Agency, responsible for market surveillance of CE-marked boats, had reduced such controls in recent years. The investigation also found that small commercial vessels are not subject to national regulations regarding construction or surveillance. Additionally, the safety switch (dead man's switch) was not in use at the time of the accident.
Probable Cause
The cause of the fisherman falling overboard could not be determined. Contributing to the outcome were that the safety switch was not in use and the absence of a life jacket or other buoyant aid.
Safety Recommendations
The Swedish Transport Agency is recommended to:
- Intensify information to all actors using small watercraft about available safety means for rescue in case of fall overboard.
- Enhance the market surveillance of CE-marked boats and collect accident and incident information from boating.