Large search for abandoned kayak on the Isel in Lienz!

Large search for abandoned kayak on the Isel in Lienz!

On Sunday, July 6, 2025, an abandoned kayak in Isel, around the city of Lienz, led to an extensive search for the police and water rescue. The green hiking kayak of the "Pelican" brand was discovered, although it remained unclear whether people may have been in an emergency in the water. This caused alarm and a lively activity in the area of application.

The search was followed by several police strips that were positioned on various bridges along the Isel. The emergency medicine helicopter "Christophorus 7" was also in use to monitor the situation from the air. Ultimately, the kayak was recovered near Dölsach, but the search for possible people was unsuccessful.

demolition of the search action

After three and a half hours, at 12 p.m., the search was canceled without success. The Lienz police inspection appealed to water sports enthusiasts to report lost water sports devices immediately in order to avoid such, time and resource-intensive inserts. In the event of a loss, the police should be informed immediately under the emergency number 133 or the Tyrol control center under 122 or 144 to prevent false alarms.

kayaks are not only very popular in Austria, but also in Germany. Last year, over 23,000 canoes and kayaks were sold in Germany. Kayaks are versatile water vehicles that are used for leisure sports and competitions. The classic kayaks originate in the Inuit language, where they are called "men's boat" or "hunter boat". In conjunction with the incident in Lienz, this illustrates the importance of security awareness in water sports.

In view of the increasing popularity and the multitude of kayjacea, such as the well-known Bohuslan in Sweden or the Vjosa river in Albania, the basic equipment and security is essential. The German Canoe Association currently has around 129,000 members, and in Germany there are over 7,300 km navigable waterways for leisure paddlers that offer opportunities for numerous active water sports enthusiasts.

The tragedy that 26 fatal accidents were registered in canoeing in Germany in 2023 underlines the need to take safety precautions, especially in confusing waters. Against the background of these statistics and the events in the Isel, such searches are not only cost -intensive, but also of considerable emotional weight for everyone involved.

The incident in Lienz shows once again that the right behavior and the necessary caution have to go hand in hand when it comes to water sports. It remains to be hoped that such operations can be avoided in the future by proactively acting water sports enthusiasts.

For more information on kayaks and water sports statistics, visit kajak100.de .

For details on the search measures and the incident in Lienz, please read the reports from 5min.at and Kurier.at .