DATEV Challenge Roth Supports Water Rescue Service with €5,000 for New Rescue Drone
More Safety in the Water: New Drone to Be Used During Swim Trainings, Race Day and Throughout the Season in the Franconian Lake District
RSafety has always been a top priority at the DATEV Challenge Roth, especially during the swim. To further strengthen water safety operations, DATEV Challenge Roth is supporting the Water Rescue Service with a donation of €5,000 toward the purchase of a new rescue drone.
Enhancing Safety at the Race and Across the Lake District
The state-of-the-art drone technology will be used during swim training sessions around DATEV Challenge Roth, on race day itself, and throughout the entire season at Rothsee. Aerial surveillance allows emergency teams to react more quickly, assess situations more accurately, and provide even more targeted safety support for swimmers.
The new drone offers a wide range of technical capabilities. An integrated AI system can quickly detect people, boats, and other objects during search and rescue operations. In addition, a laser rangefinder enables precise measurements and real-time position marking.
Fully Operational in Poor Visibility and Darkness
The technology is especially valuable in difficult visibility conditions. The drone features a special night-scene mode with full-color night vision, infrared support, and thermal imaging technology. This allows rescue teams to work much more effectively at dusk, in darkness, or in poor visibility conditions.
Another key feature is the integrated loudspeaker system. The speaker reaches a volume of up to 114 decibels at a distance of one meter, enabling clear announcements over distances of up to 300 meters.
“An Important Building Block for Greater Safety”
“The new drone is an important building block for even greater safety on and in the water. Especially during major events like DATEV Challenge Roth, but also in daily operations, it provides enormous support for our rescue teams,” explains Olaf Pfeiffer. “We are very grateful for the support from the DATEV Challenge Roth team. Modern technology helps us act even faster in emergencies and ensures that critical situations can be identified at an early stage.”
“Safety Is Our Highest Priority”
For DATEV Challenge Roth, the investment is also a clear sign of appreciation for the work of the many volunteers supporting the race.
“The safety of our athletes is our highest priority. The Water Rescue Service has been doing outstanding work for decades,” says Kathrin Walchshöfer-Helneder. “By supporting this new drone, we want to help ensure that the Water Rescue Service can assist people even faster and more effectively.”
More Than 100 Water Rescue Personnel on Duty on Race Day
The Water Rescue Service has supported DATEV Challenge Roth for many years with a large team of emergency personnel, particularly at the Main-Danube Canal, ensuring a smooth and safe swim start as well as the entire first discipline.
On race day, more than 100 rescue personnel are deployed on the water, supported by around 15 boats equipped with sonar technology. Together, they provide close and seamless monitoring of the entire canal section — from the swim start to securing the course along the canal during the run segment.