Austrian jumps from Mostar's bridge and is heavily attacked!

Austrian jumps from Mostar's bridge and is heavily attacked!

Alte Brücke in Mostar, Bosnien-Herzegowina - On June 25, 2025, an incident at the old bridge in Mostar, Bosnia, caused excitement. A 28-year-old man from Vorarlberg, Austria, jumped unannounced and without permission from the 20 meter high bridge to the Neretva. The jump lasted about three seconds and was comparable to that of a Bugattis with an acceleration. However, the reaction of the locals to the jump was extremely negative: the man was beaten up immediately after his jump. A video of the incident that went viral on social media already recorded hundreds of thousands of views.

The old bridge, also known as Stari Most, not only represents a popular destination for adrenaline seekers, but is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important symbol of the city of Mostar.

culture and tradition of jumping bridge

The bridge jumping in Mostar has a long history, the first documented jump took place in 1664. Locals traditionally jump against payment and under guidance, with various types of jumping, such as the feet-front jump or the "Schwalbe". When jumping, the jumpers reach speeds of up to 85 km/h. However, the water surface of the Neretva is hard as concrete, and the depth of the river is only about three to four meters, which can result in dangerous injuries.

Professional bridge jumping is widespread in Mostar. Some locals earn their livelihoods to attract tourists, while competitions, such as the Red Bull Cliff Diving Series, draw attention to sport. The old bridge has been connected to the two cultural and ethnic sides of the city since its construction in the 16th century, a Muslim and a Catholic.

Die Geschichte der Alten Brücke

The Stari Most was built around 1566 by a student of the famous architect Sinan and is considered the central element of Mostar's identity. Unfortunately, the bridge was completely destroyed on November 9, 1993 during the Bosnia War. The international community was horrified by the destruction of such an important cultural heritage. After the war there were efforts to rebuild the bridge, which finally succeeded in 2002. The renovation was carried out under the patronage of the UNESCO and with the support of international donor countries such as Croatia, France and Turkey.

The bridge was reconstructed with local materials that used the same stone from a traditional quarry as in the original building. In July 2005 the area around the old bridge was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The bridge jumper's attempt to keep his identity secret failed because the reaction of the locals and viral calls on social media quickly became the focus of the public. Such behavior, unconditionally and without preparation, should not remain without consequences in the future.