Boat Tragedy in Ayvalık: 24-Year-Old Bahri Dede Loses His Life

The tragic incident that occurred in the Karaada locality of Ayvalık district in Balıkesir took place on the night of July 3 during a boat tour with a group of friends. The sea tour, which started as a fun activity, turned into a disaster when 24-year-old Bahri Dede disappeared underwater for reasons that are yet to be determined. Upon noticing the situation, his friends immediately reported it to the authorities, leading to a large-scale search and rescue operation being launched in the area shortly after. In this race against time, intensive efforts were made both on the surface and underwater to find the missing youth. Following the news of the incident, teams were dispatched to the region and mobilized through inter-agency coordination.

Immediately following the alert, the Ayvalık Fire Group Command Underwater Search and Rescue Team, affiliated with the Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department, was mobilized. Simultaneously, the Underwater Search and Rescue Team of the Coast Guard Command was dispatched to the scene, and search efforts were coordinated from the air and land. To locate the missing person, the teams conducted detailed underwater searches using divers in addition to scanning the sea surface. These efforts continued for hours; despite all resources being mobilized, the missing youth could not be reached for a long time. The diving activities, carried out over a wide area under extremely dangerous conditions, pushed the physical and technical capacities of the teams to the limit.

As the search and rescue efforts continued intensely, hopes gave way to sorrow, and in the evening, around 19:00, the tragic news arrived. As a result of their scans, the teams located the lifeless body of Bahri Dede off the coast of Karaada. It was reported that the body was found at a depth of approximately 15 meters, and the family and relatives were notified of the situation. Although this depth posed challenging conditions for the divers, the body was successfully recovered from the water through a professional operation. The Coast Guard teams dispatched to the scene took the body into custody and initiated necessary legal procedures after safely retrieving it.

The body of Bahri Dede, which was brought to the surface, was handed over to the Coast Guard Command teams for autopsy procedures and the conduct of legal processes following an initial examination. Following this handover, the body was prepared by the teams to be transported to the necessary medical centers to determine the exact cause of death. The autopsy report to be conducted is of great importance in identifying the factors that led to the youth's death. With the delivery of the body, the legal process has commenced, and all details of the incident have been officially recorded for investigation. The legal procedures for the official notification of the tragic news to the family and loved ones have been initiated.

In relation to the incident, a comprehensive investigation has been launched under the coordination of the Ayvalık Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and the probe is being conducted in depth. Authorities are taking statements from the individuals on the boat at the time of the incident to shed light on how the accident occurred and the reason for Dede's disappearance from the water. In particular, the testimonies of the other individuals on the boat tour are of great importance in illuminating the unclear aspects of the incident. The investigations are examining in detail whether there is any element of crime or negligence, and necessary legal procedures are being carried out meticulously.