The actor and filmmaker Til Schweiger (58) was initially shocked by the drama about McFit founder Rainer Schaller (53). Compared to "Bild am Sonntag", Schweiger said: "We are all so shocked! I loved him like a brother." Just five days ago he would have been on the phone with Schaller. The missing entrepreneur told him that he was going on family vacation in South America for five weeks.

The two have been close friends for many years. Schaller maintained numerous contacts and liked to appear with celebrities at public events. In addition to Til Schweiger, for example, also with the two ex-boxing world champions Wladimir (46) and Vitali (51) Klitschko or with Arnold Schwarzenegger (75).

Rainer Schaller's private plane suddenly disappeared from the radar on Saturday night off the coast of Costa Rica. His partner, their two children, an employee of Schaller and the pilot are said to have been on board. A reconnaissance flight saw debris in the sea on Saturday. A spokesman for the coast guard there confirmed less later that remains had been found in the sea, which probably came from a crashed plane. According to local media reports, a man and a child were also recovered dead from the sea.