Germany's ex-president plucked from capsized boat
July 27, 2019
Former German President Joachim Gauck had to be rescued on Friday after his sailing boat capsized in shallow waters.
The Federal Criminal Police (BKA) said the historic cutter overturned in calm waters near the Baltic Sea town of Wustrow, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of Rostock.
The politician and civil rights activist was alone on the boat when the incident happened, BKA added.
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Regional newspaper, the Ostseezeitung reported that emergency services were alerted at around 2:20 p.m. local time (1230 UTC) on Friday.
According to rescuers, Gauck's boat capsized near a patch of reeds on the water just 90 centimeters (35 inches) deep. There had been strong gusts of wind at the time.
The former head of state's spokeswoman told local media the 79-year-old was "unhurt and well."
Gauck was formerly a patron of the organization that came to his aid, the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS).
"Now the former federal president was able to experience in person our readiness for action," the service said in a statement.
Gauck's security detail was nearby on land, the BKA said.
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The former Lutheran pastor held the mostly ceremonial role of German president from 2012 to 2017.
After German reunification, he spent a decade as head of Federal Commissioner for the Stasi Records, investigating the former East Germany's much-feared state security service.
Gauck became known as a "Stasi hunter" who helped expose the crimes of the communist-era secret police.
He was born in nearby Rostock but spent much of his childhood in Wustrow.
mm/amp (DPA, AFP)