Illegal bathing in River Danube can cost human lives – VIDEO

Photo: www.youtube.com/PoliceHungary

Budapest Police Headquarters have pointed out that swimming in the Danube outside the designated areas is strictly forbidden, and everyone is asked to follow the rules of bathing in order to prevent tragedies this summer.

“River Danube is beautiful, but can be dangerous” – highlights the video posted by Budapest Police Headquarters. They ask everyone to follow the “written and unwritten” rules of bathing and act responsibly, by which a significant part of the tragedies can be prevented.

Despite police warnings, many people choose forbidden places for swimming this year, which can even cost human lives. In 2020, 40 corpses were lifted from the Danube, and four people died due to bathing at a forbidden place.

Therefore, it is extremely important to follow the rules, according to which swimming in the Danube is allowed at the free beaches of Dunakeszi, Göd, Szentendre, Verőce, Dunabogdány, Nagymaros, Kisoroszi, Ráckeve, Szigetcsép and Szigetszentmárton.

However, it is strictly forbidden to swim near

waterways, buoys and fairway buoys, large boats, floating equipment and non-bathing floats within 100 meters, dams and waterworks within 300 meters, bridges, water extraction works, ferries and ferry crossings within 100 meters. In addition, it is also prohibited to bathe at ports, moorings and loading bays, designated jet ski and other motorised watercraft tracks, in the area of the ship station, in waters harmful to health, in border waters and urban waters (except for the designated bathing areas), at night and during restricted visibility, unless the water surface is illuminated and still up to the deep water limit indicated by the prohibition sign.

Budapest Police Headquarters also suggest that anyone who cannot swim well should always bathe in shallow water and should not swim after floating mattresses as it can be very dangerous. It is forbidden to jump abruptly into the water with a heated body. Children under the age of 6 or unable to swim in open waters may bathe only in the immediate vicinity of an adult, under his/her supervision.

As the Hungarian news portal 444.hu reports, water sports equipment (including water skiing or SUP) can be used on the Danube and can only be driven without alcohol consumption. A watercraft powered by wind power or machinery with a length of more than 7 meters, a nominal sail area of more than 10 m2 or engine power of more than 7.5 kW may only be driven with a special qualification.

All persons travelling on water sports equipment must wear a life jacket.

In order to avoid injuries and tragedies, the police conduct regular, recurrent inspections and take action against those who break bathing rules. If someone violates the rules, the perpetrator can be fined EUR 14 – EUR 422.