The family of Thijs Gosseling from Enschede has traveled to Italy after the 45-year-old man drowned in Lake Como while trying to save his 16-year-old son.
Gosseling was on vacation with his three children near Menaggio. The family had rented a boat for a trip across the lake.
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His eldest son went swimming and got into trouble, prompting Gosseling to jump in to help, but he did not resurface.
The two younger children remained on the boat and attracted the attention of local fishermen and other water recreators.
A father and son on a SUP board managed to rescue the 16-year-old boy. Gosseling was reported missing thereafter.
Search and Recovery
The coast guard launched an extensive search operation involving a helicopter and specialized divers. Sonar equipment located Gosseling's body at a depth of 25 meters on Sunday afternoon.
Emergency services recovered the body and transferred it to the morgue at the Como hospital, where forensic investigations are underway.
Gosseling’s father, Bram, traveled to Italy to identify his son's body and manage repatriation procedures. The man's mother also departed for Italy.
The family’s primary concern is to bring the body back to Enschede.
Gosseling worked in finance and came from a family with a background in construction.
His father co-founded the construction company Gosseling Ter Horst, which started as a small handyman business in 1982 and grew into a full construction firm over the years.
