WARNING: GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION
A British soldier has his forearm ripped off when he became tangled in a rope swing as he jumped into a lake.
The 24-year-old dropped from the swing in Paderborn, western Germany, and found himself caught up in the rope as it cut through his limb when he fell into the Habichtsee.
According to a press release from the Paderborn Police Department, initial investigations found that ropes hung on the tree, allowing people to swing across and drop into the water.
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In addition, small boards were nailed to the tree as a climbing aid. On Tuesday evening (25 June), several people had climbed onto the tree to jump into the water from about eight to ten metres - including the young soldier.
After the rope severed his forearm, the anonymous man fell into the water along with his arm.
The man's friends had pulled him from the water and were providing first aid before the ambulance, fire department and police arrived on the scene.
The fire department immediately demanded divers who could attempt to recover the arm at a depth of about two and a half metres.
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Once his arm was located, the injured man and his limb were driven to a nearby barracks, where the rescue helicopter had landed. He was flown to a special clinic in Bochum, Germany.
In their statement, the police said: "In the Habichtsee, bathing is prohibited. Several signs indicate the danger of the water."
Military police were also involved because both the injured man and his friends were British soldiers.
Doctors have confirmed that the man's life is not in danger, The Mirror reports.
Featured Image Credit: Polizei Paderborn