The body of a Russian swimmer who went missing almost half a year ago has been found decapitated and without limbs
The body of Russian swimmer Nikolai Svechnikov, who disappeared during the transcontinental race on the Bosphorus, has been found almost five months after his disappearance. The corpse had no head and no limbs.
The athlete was an experienced swimmer. PHOTO Shutterstock
The Russian Consulate in Istanbul confirmed that DNA tests identified the body discovered on January 20 as that of Nikolai Svechnikov, a 29-year-old swimmer and coach who went missing during the competition on August 24, according to CBS News
Disappearance observed only after the end of the race
Svechnikov was participating in the famous 4-mile race that connects Asia to Europe, along with more than 2,800 athletes from 81 countries.
The Turkish Olympic Committee announced that the athlete “disappeared during the race”his absence being noticed only a few hours after the end of the competition.
According to Istanbul's governor, surveillance footage and the timing chip mounted on his leg confirm that the swimmer started but did not finish. Intensive searches by the Coast Guard and Maritime Police have been fruitless for months.
Macabre discovery close to the European shore
On Tuesday morning, police found the body of a man near the Bebek cliff near the finish area of the race. The prosecutor's office in Istanbul stated that the body was badly mutilated, without a head, arms and legs, but it had a bathing suit, which immediately led to the suspicion that it could be the Russian athlete. DNA tests later confirmed the athlete's identity.
The family accuses negligence in organizing the competition
The family's lawyer, Alperen Çakmak, said that the police investigation must move forward quickly and that all leads regarding possible negligence by the organizers must be pursued.
“We will do everything necessary to identify those responsible. There is also a separate compensation procedure which we will continue“, he said.
Race Safety Questions
The transcontinental race on the Bosphorus involves the temporary closure of one of the busiest sea routes in the world. Participants have two hours to complete the route, and those who fail are picked up by the Coast Guard.
Some swimmers have criticized the organization in the past, citing a lack of adequate monitoring and an insufficient number of lifeboats, according to The Moscow Times.
