BRITISH STUDENT, 22, DROWNS IN LAKE COMO AFTER BOAT DRIFTS AWAY DURING HOLIDAY WITH GIRLFRIEND

A 22-year-old British student drowned in Lake Como after strong winds pushed the boat he had been using with his girlfriend away from them, leaving the couple struggling in the water.

A young British student has died after drowning in Lake Como, Italy, during a holiday with his girlfriend.

Sam Rigby, 22, was swimming in the popular Italian lake with his girlfriend, 19-year-old Olivia Greenhall, when the couple became separated from their boat.

The tragedy happened as the pair were enjoying a trip to one of Italy’s most famous tourist destinations.

According to reports, Sam and Olivia had rented a boat and gone out onto the lake. But changing weather conditions and strong winds caused the boat to drift farther away from them.

The couple then faced a desperate struggle to get back to the vessel.

Olivia was eventually rescued by a passing boat after she was spotted in difficulty.

Sam, however, disappeared beneath the water.

His body was later recovered by rescuers after a police helicopter spotted him in the lake.

Friends left ‘shellshocked’ by sudden death

News of Sam’s death left his friends devastated.

One friend paid tribute on social media, writing that the tragedy had left him “shellshocked.”

Another friend described Sam as having been taken “way too soon,” while others expressed their condolences to his family.

A woman who knew Sam described the news as heartbreaking and emphasized how young he was.

The tributes reflected the shock felt by those who knew the 22-year-old, whose holiday in Italy had ended in tragedy.

Girlfriend rescued from the water

Sam had been swimming with Olivia when the situation suddenly became dangerous.

The couple had taken the boat out from the area around Menaggio, on the western side of Lake Como.

Strong winds reportedly pushed the boat away from the pair.

They then attempted to swim back toward it, but the distance and conditions made the situation increasingly difficult.

At some point, Olivia lost sight of Sam.

She was later spotted struggling in the water and rescued by people aboard a passing boat.

The rescuers brought her to safety while the search for Sam continued.

She was reportedly exhausted and in shock as rescuers told her that her boyfriend remained missing.

Huge search launched

Emergency crews launched a major search operation across Lake Como.

Firefighters, rescue teams and helicopters searched the water and surrounding shoreline around Menaggio.

The lake is one of Italy’s most popular tourist destinations, but its considerable depth and changing conditions can create serious dangers for swimmers.

After an extensive search, Sam’s body was eventually located.

A police helicopter spotted him in the water, allowing rescue teams to recover his body.

Local authorities subsequently began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Family supported by British authorities

The British Foreign Office confirmed that it was supporting Sam’s family following his death.

A spokesperson said officials were in contact with local authorities in Italy and were providing assistance to the family.

The tragedy also prompted renewed warnings about the dangers facing visitors who enter Lake Como without fully appreciating how quickly conditions can change.

A local police source told The Telegraph that many tourists were unaware of the potential dangers of the lake and needed to exercise caution.

A beautiful destination with hidden risks

Lake Como is internationally known for its spectacular scenery, historic villas and picturesque towns.

The lake attracts millions of visitors and is particularly popular during the summer months.

But beneath its calm-looking surface lies a very deep body of water with changing weather and water conditions.

For swimmers, getting separated from a boat can become particularly dangerous when wind and waves make it difficult to return to shore or the vessel.

Sam’s death became another tragic reminder of those risks.

For his loved ones, however, the focus remains on remembering a 22-year-old whose life ended during what had been intended to be a holiday with someone he loved.

Friends described him as a young man taken far too soon, while tributes continued to appear following the devastating news.

Sam’s family was left to mourn his sudden death thousands of miles from home, as the British student who had traveled to Italy for a holiday never returned.