Technical defect: sports boat on the Rhine in Neuss in great need!

Technical defect: sports boat on the Rhine in Neuss in great need!

On Saturday, May 17th, 2025, there was a deployment of the German Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft (DLRG) and the fire brigade on the Rhine in Neuss at 9:00 p.m. A sports boat had become unable to maneuver due to a technical defect. An angler who was near the bank was noticed by the boat guide and immediately alerted the emergency services. The DLRG and the fire brigade arrived at the Rheinstrom kilometer 728 at the level of the Silber Lake within around 10 minutes.

The emergency services secured the damaged boat and put it in tow. Fortunately, the boat driver was unharmed and only got away with a horror. In order to ensure the safety of the ship, it was transported to Dormagen zones to the replacement transition point and taken out of the water by a DLRG boat. The mission ended around 10:00 p.m.

Details and organization

The DLRG, which plays an important role in disaster protection, is integrated into such operations in accordance with the "Hessian Law on Fire Protection, General Aid and Disaster Protection (HBKG)". According to the provisions, the DLRG is responsible for water rescue in Hesse and carries out regular inserts in swimming pools, swimming lakes and rivers. In ten counties, water rescue trains (WRZ) and nine other counties expanded water rescue groups (EWRGR) to protect the public.

A water rescue train consists of 25 emergency services and has specialized groups such as diving teams and boat teams. These units are able to save people and animals from water or ice risk and to carry out the requested transport and supply trips on water.

The basic structures of the water rescue services are crucial for a quick and efficient reaction in emergencies. The DLRG is not only entrusted with the implementation of rescue actions, but also with the support of other emergency services to minimize damage to high water and the implementation of underwater work.

This assignment on the Rhine illustrates the importance of DLRG and its partners in disaster protection. Such quick reactions are essential to protect man and material in emergency situations. The DLRG continuously trains its emergency services and regularly organizes courses for transfer of knowledge, which is of central importance for the efficiency of the water rescue services.