The children, aged seven and nine, were reported missing by their parents in a designated swimming area at Lake Eiserbach south of Aachen, authorities said. Rescuers managed to pull the children from the water and they were taken to hospitals in Aachen and Cologne, but they later died. Have you been affected by it? If so, please email [email protected] Prosecutors in Aachen said they were investigating whether the deaths were the result of negligence. Emergency services first received calls at 5.59pm. on Thursday and sent multiple response vehicles to the scene immediately, local media reported. Specialist teams from the German Technical Assistance Service (THW) and the DLRG (German Rescue Organisation) followed soon after. One of the boys was reportedly taken to the emergency department in Cologne, while the other was taken to Aachen in critical condition but died later that evening. The lake where the incident took place, south of the city of Aachen on Thursday, is popular with tourists. Germany has experienced warm temperatures of around 31C this week, which has led to the swimming area being busier than usual. Europe experienced warmer than usual weather this summer as both the UK and France faced bushfires, droughts and tire bans. The tragedy comes just a month after it was reported that a 16-year-old and 10-year-old got into trouble trying to swim in the same water. First responders were said to be able to save the youngest child, but the teenager unfortunately drowned. The Independent has approached the Foreign Office for comment.
