Shock on the water: Dramatic boat collision near Klosterneuburg!

Shock on the water: Dramatic boat collision near Klosterneuburg!

Late on Saturday afternoon on June 1, 2025, there was a serious accident on the Danube near Klosterneuburg in Lower Austria. Two motorboats collided, resulting in a total of six people injured, including a man with serious injuries. According to 5min.at, the cause of the accident is attributed to a failed evasive maneuver by the two boat drivers.

There were a total of ten people on board the two boats. The first boat was driven by a 58-year-old man who had his two relatives and three other family members on board. The second boat, whose 46-year-old boat driver was driving, also had several relatives with him and was towing an inflatable water sports device with two children. In the accident, the older boat driver tried to turn his boat while the 46-year-old drove straight ahead. Both steered their boats to the same side, which led to the collision. The 58-year-old crashed the front of his boat into the stern of the other boat, whereupon the 46-year-old was thrown overboard and got caught in the ship's propeller, as Heute reports.

Rescue measures and emergency services

The emergency services were alerted shortly after 6 p.m. A large contingent of rescue teams were on site, including the Vienna professional fire department, five volunteer fire departments, divers and numerous rescue services. A total of 50 emergency services with twelve vehicles and four boats were deployed. The ÖAMTC emergency medical helicopter “Christophorus 9” landed on the Klosterneuburg side at the taxi ferry to treat the injured people. The Klosterneuburg volunteer fire department took care of rescuing people, while the Kritzendorf fire department regulated boat and ship traffic.

The injured people were taken to nearby hospitals while the firefighters salvaged the wreckage. Both boats were significantly damaged and one partially sank. The investigation into the accident is still ongoing and the boats have been brought to shore for safety.

Impact on shipping traffic

As a result of the accident, numerous measures had to be taken to ensure safety on the water. Nevertheless, the roller ferry was able to continue operating, which is positive news for residents and road users. The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation and relevant authorities are taking steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Boaters are advised to follow safety guidelines and what to do in the event of a boating accident. You can find a comprehensive checklist on how to behave correctly in such a situation at SV PICO.