Drama on the Havel: Water guard saves man after boat accident!

Drama on the Havel: Water guard saves man after boat accident!

Kladow, Berlin, Deutschland - On May 24, 2025, a serious boat accident occurred on the Havel, where a sailing yacht with four people sank on board. The incident took place near the island of Schwanenwerder in the Steglitz-Zehlendorf district, which led to a large-scale operation by fire brigade, DRK-Wasserwacht and DLRG. Rescue workers were immediately alerted to fix the situation and save the occupants.

A boat occupant got under water during the accident and had to be recovered by the water guard. Thanks to the rapid action of the rescue workers, the saved person could be reanimated on board a rescue boat. Later she was brought to the western bank in the Kladow district, where an emergency doctor and Johanniter accident assistance employee took over the further care. Another person from the four occupants suffered minor injuries.

emergency use and recovery

rescue workers from the DLRG, the multi-purpose boat of the Feuerwache Wannsee and the DRK water watch were on site to secure the scene of the accident and to secure the sunken sailboat. Detailed information about the accident victims did not exist in the early evening, but the use illustrated the challenges and risks of water sports.

In the context of water security and accidents on waters, it is alarming that the DLRG recorded a total of 411 fatal accidents in Germany in 2023. This represents an increase of 31 deaths compared to the previous year and marks the third increase in a row. The DLRG President, Ute Vogt, expressed hope that people will be sensitized to the upcoming warm season through such tragic events. The DLRG is particularly planning to point out parents of small children to special dangers that can arise in waters.

to the dramatic situation on the Havel, experts reacted with the urgent request to increase the safety precautions for water sports. Correction of consciousness about the dangers could possibly help to reduce the increasing statistics and prevent future accidents.

Further details about the incident and the background to water security can be found in the reports of rbb24 and Tagesspiegel . For comprehensive statistics on drowning and security initiatives, the website of the dlrg