Worker Dies After Boat Capsizes on Mur River in Graz

Emergency services in Graz were deployed early in the morning after an aluminum boat carrying three construction workers capsized in the Mur River. The incident occurred at approximately 7:20 am and prompted a large-scale rescue operation involving police units, drones, medical teams, firefighters, and water rescue personnel.

According to authorities, all three workers were of Polish nationality. While two of the men managed to swim to the riverbank and were subsequently treated for hypothermia by the Red Cross, the third worker, a 24-year-old man, was initially reported missing. Search operations targeted the section of the Mur River near the right bank, which was the area where the boat had set off and where the accident unfolded. Divers later discovered the missing worker's body close to the location where the boat had submerged.

The recovery effort was complicated by poor underwater visibility caused by strong undercurrents. Police representatives noted that despite calm conditions on the river's surface, the presence of a significant undercurrent resulted in highly turbid water, rendering aerial searches from a police helicopter ineffective. Fire department divers faced additional obstacles due to the limited visibility beneath the water's surface.

Authorities also deployed a recently commissioned police boat for the first time, as well as specialized diving teams from the fire department, to support the operation. The focus throughout the search remained on the area around the bridge spanning the Mur, where the accident had occurred.

The two surviving workers were transported to a local hospital for further medical assessment. As both men were still recovering from their ordeal, police had not immediately been able to interview them. Consequently, it remains unclear whether the workers were wearing life jackets at the time of the accident or what factors may have contributed to the vessel capsizing. Investigations into the cause of the incident are ongoing.

The boat trip was linked to ongoing construction activities on the Mur River. The Austrian motorway operator Asfinag is currently overseeing the reconstruction of two approximately 100-meter-long bridges along the A2 motorway between Graz-East and Graz-West. Work on the bridges, which includes the use of floating platforms on the Mur, continued during the search and recovery operation. The new southern bridge is already completed and currently carries all traffic in the area, while work on the northern bridge is expected to conclude by December. Once finished, traffic will be redirected, and the old bridge between the two new structures will be dismantled. The final phase will involve hydraulically shifting the completed southern bridge into its permanent position.

The tragic accident has underscored the risks associated with construction activities on or near water, particularly under challenging environmental conditions. Authorities are expected to review safety protocols in light of the incident as investigations proceed.