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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Benjamin Lynch

Body of 'hero' Brit dad who drowned after he dived into Italian lake to save son found

The body of a British man who dived into an Italian lake to save his son has been found.

Aran Chada, 51, leapt into Lake Garda to save his 14-year-old son Roman after he became stranded in the water.

The family were enjoying a holiday with Aran's partner Holly Mosley, 39, and daughter Floren, seven.

Aran was successful in saving his son, but got into trouble himself and slipped beneath the surfaces shortly after on July 22.

Chada was found roughly 800 metres from the shores of Lake Gara by specialist diving teams at a depth of around 316 metres. His body was brought back to shore by the coastguard.

The body of Aran Chada, 51, has now been found (LinkedIn)

Coastguard commander Antonio Ragadale said: "It was a complicated and difficult search but we had promised to find his body so his family could be reunited with him.

"It was the least we could do because he had been so brave in diving into the lake when he saw his son get into trouble."

At the time of his disappearance, a coast guard spokesperson said they believed hero Aran could have suffered "thermal shock" as he dragged his son to the boat so his mum could pull him aboard.

Their rented boat was around 500m from the shore when the tragic incident occurred.

The family had rented a boat on Lake Garda (De Agostini via Getty Images)

They told how it was "very hot on Friday afternoon but the water was a good ten degrees colder...it's possible he could have had a seizure due to the thermal shock."

Aran was the third person to die in the lake that very week.

While Italy is known for warm temperatures and hot summer sun, the water of Lake Garda is often found to be cold as it comes from melting snow and ice.

Lake Garda Revealed said that the temperature in the summer is enough to enjoy a swim. Despite this, sudden exposure to colder water can lead the body to suffer from shock.

Chada, a company director in the oil industry, was due to celebrate his 52nd birthday with the family on holiday before disaster struck.

His family, from Woodhouse Eaves in Leicestershire, are expected to fly to Italy this week to identify his body.

Officials believe Chada may have suffered "thermal shock" (NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Holly's brother James told The Sun: "It's devastating. What my sister and the family is going through is unimaginable."

Other boats were reportedly drawn to the commotion by the screams of the family.

Mr Ragadale added: "'The operation lasted almost a month and we were searching continually day after day for him with a robot and sonar and he was found at a considerable death, 316 meters which made it a very complex operation.

"This man was a hero and at last now he can be reunited with his family, we had vowed we would carry on for the sake of them and we have done our duty."

At the time of the disappearance, the Foreign Office confirmed they were "supporting" the family and said they had been in contact with Italian police.

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