Y2023-03 Conscripts falling into water in Dragsvik on 10 October 2023

Under section 2, subsection 2 of the Safety Investigation Act (525/2011), the Safety Investigation Authority, Finland, will initiate an investigation into the accident that occurred in Dragsvik, Raseborg, on 10 October 2023.

The Finnish Defence Forces were carrying out an exercise, in which nine conscripts were supposed to land from a boat via shallow water. Some of them ended up in too deep water with their equipment and were at the risk of drowning. One was seriously injured. The investigation will look for ways to develop the safety of conscript service.

Naval officer (ret.), commercial pilot Jani Holmberg has been appointed as the Head of the Investigation Team, with sea captain Jori Nordström, Riku Oksman, D.Sc. (Economics and Business Administration), and Mikko Virtanen, a teacher of emergency medical services, as its members. Chief Safety Investigator Kai Valonen will serve as the Investigator-in-Charge.