Czech family swept away in storm in Croatia rescued; multiple rescue operations in the Adriya Sea

Off the coast of the town of Senj in Croatia, in a dramatic event that took place in the evening hours, a four-person Czech family with their two children was rescued after being swept out to the open sea due to severe bura (wind). It was stated that the family fell into the water while trying to save their children on a SUP (stand-up paddleboard) and their lives were put in danger. Thanks to the coordinated and rapid intervention of the Senj Port Authority officers and the sea police, all members were pulled out of the water without any burns and brought to safety. The event went down in records as just one of a series of dangerous maritime accidents that occurred along Croatia's Adriya coast on the same day.

Earlier in the day, off Trogir, near Čelica Island, a smaller sailing boat capsized due to the impact of strong winds. The crew on the boat survived the accident unharmed and remained afloat, and were quickly found by teams dispatched to the area and moved to a safe location. Following the sea accident, the capsized sailing boat is planned to be towed to shore as it could not withstand the waves, and necessary inspections will be carried out. Accidents resulting from inexperience or failure to consider weather conditions continue to pose a risk to maritime traffic in the region.

Additionally, in Tiha Bay near Stari Grad on Hvar Island, a fire that broke out on a twin-hulled sailing boat owned by a charter company caused great panic. The five people on the boat, where flames spread rapidly, were evacuated from the vessel in a timely manner with the help of nearby support boats at the time of the incident, and their lives were secured. Fire teams and port officials dispatched to the scene managed to pull the burning boat away from the shore to prevent the fire from spreading to the surrounding vegetation and started cooling operations. Before the fire was brought under control, another escape at sea had occurred.

In Pula, however, a complex operation was carried out to evacuate an injured person in a difficult-to-access terrain in the rocky area known as Galebove Stijene. With the joint work of the port authority, emergency health teams, and the fire department, the injured person trapped in the area was brought down from the steep cliffs to the hospital. Although the steep terrain and the intensity of the wind in the area always make such rescue operations difficult, the teams achieved a successful result. This incident showed how critical emergencies on land can be, as well as accidents at sea.

In Makarska, Podstrana, and other regions of the Adriya coast, many owners of surfboards and small recreational boats that were dragged into the sea by the severe bura wind were rescued by authorities and civilians. In some cases, boats coincidentally nearby and used by citizens rushed to the aid of people swimming and in danger on the shore. The Rijeka-based National Maritime Search and Rescue Center (MRCC) coordinated all these events, and with the cooperation of the police, fire, and health teams, completed the day without any loss of life.