Katarzyna Anton, representing Unity Line’s Polish branch, said the company had ruled out the involvement of any third parties and stressed that no further details could be provided at this stage.
The incident occurred while the Skania, operated by Unity Line, was en route from Ystad in southern Sweden to Świnoujście in north-western Poland.
According to Unity Line, a witness informed the ferry’s crew that the passenger had fallen into the water, prompting a “man overboard” alert.
The rescue operation was coordinated by the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service and was supported by the nearby Unity Line ferry Polonia, as well as Swedish and Danish units and aerial assets.
Helicopters and HSC Offshore vessels also took part in the search. Despite several hours of searching under difficult sea conditions, the passenger was not located.
The operation took place near Sassnitz, a port town on the German island of Rügen in the Baltic Sea, and lasted from late afternoon to evening local time.
At 6:21 pm, German SAR authorities decided to end the rescue effort and released the Skania and Polonia ferries, which then proceeded, as instructed, to their respective ports in Ystad, Sweden, and Świnoujście, north-western Poland.
An operations inspector from Poland’s Maritime Search and Rescue Service confirmed to the Polish Radio English Section that the rescue effort was led by German authorities and that all official information on the incident came from the German side. Unity Line said it continues to coordinate with the relevant authorities.
Polish authorities remind the public that if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or feel that you are in a situation without a way out, help is available.
In Poland, trained counselors can be reached by phone or online via the Crisis Helpline for Adults (116 123), the Helpline for Children and Youth (116 111), the Children’s Helpline of the Commissioner for Children’s Rights (800 12 12 12), or the Support Center for Adults in Mental Crisis (800 70 2222).
Photo: KPRM
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Source: Polish Radio English Section