A 27-year-old soldier has gone missing in the Baltic Sea after being swept away by waves during a swimming incident on a military training ground. The incident occurred last night at the Ustka-Wicko Morskie training area, and rescue operations extended for several hours.
The Military Police have confirmed the soldier’s disappearance. Major Tomasz Zygmunt, a spokesperson for the Szczecin division of the Military Police, stated, “The incident took place within the military area near Wicko Morskie. Circumstances suggest a drowning.” He added that search efforts are ongoing.
On Tuesday morning, a Navy helicopter was deployed to search the area where the soldier was last seen. Units from the Water Volunteer Search and Rescue (WOPR) and the Maritime Search and Rescue Service (SAR) had initially participated in the search but were no longer involved by midday.
Rafał Goeck, SAR spokesperson, explained that the search, involving WOPR and SAR rescuers, continued until 10:30 PM on Monday. The operation began shortly after 8 PM when the Water Rescue Coordination Center in Szczecin reported that a man had been pulled out to sea.
“We received a report that a man was being dragged into the sea at the Wicko Morskie training ground. Rescuers from Ustka and Darłowo, as well as a helicopter, were dispatched. Unfortunately, the man was not found,” recounted Goeck.
The rescue operation included rescue ships “Tajfun” from Darłowo and “Orkan” from Ustka, lifeguards on a pontoon, firefighters, police officers, and soldiers. Goeck highlighted that the Baltic Sea conditions were challenging, with sea states of three to four on the Beaufort scale, conditions under which red flags are typically flown to indicate dangerous swimming conditions.
The missing soldier was identified as a volunteer serviceman from the 18th Reconnaissance Battalion in Biała Podlaska, who had been serving since June of this year. He went to the beach at the Wicko Morskie training ground on Monday evening to swim.
The circumstances of the incident are under investigation by the Szczecin Niebuszewo District Prosecutor’s Office (Military Affairs Division).
The Ustka-Wicko Morskie training ground is the Central Air Force Training Area, covering 4,000 hectares along the Baltic Sea coast between Ustka and Jarosławiec.