diving towers collapsed
Crack in the water basin – several injured in the accident in Europa-Park
A view of the area of the “High Diving Show ‘Retorno dos Piratas'” and the attraction “Atlantica SuperSplash” after an accident at Europa-Park on Monday
© Pascal Czech / DPA
Europa-Park is a popular destination, especially during the summer holidays. A few tens of thousands of people usually cavort here, ride roller coasters and watch acrobatic shows. One of them went completely differently than planned.
According to the police, seven people were injured in an accident at the largest amusement park in Germany, the Europa-Park in Rust near Freiburg. These are five artists and two visitors. Three of the acrobats came to the hospital for clarification, as a spokeswoman said in the evening. Previously, there had been different information on the number of people affected by the park and the police. According to a park spokesman, a pool of water ruptured and attached diving towers collapsed. Several media had previously reported on the event.
According to the spokesman, a mobile swimming pool from the “high-diving show ‘Retorno dos Piratas'” ruptured during a performance. The water flowed into the lake of the “Atlantica SuperSplash” water ride attraction. At the Water basins are mounted on platforms up to 25 meters high, from which acrobats jump. The scaffolding collapsed because there was no stability after the water had escaped. Various parts of the scenery then floated in the basin of the water ride.
It was initially unclear where exactly the injured were at the time of the accident. The park spokesman initially reported only one injured visitor who suffered a minor abrasion. Later there was also talk of two injured artists.
Accident at the high-diving show in Europa-Park
“Retorno dos Piratas” is about high diving acrobats who plunge from dizzying heights into the depths. Ten international athletes are to show extraordinary stunts – including fire – by September 3rd. “The extreme athletes perform several times a day and present classic dives, synchronized jumps and comedic interludes,” the park announced in May. The water basin is only 3.20 meters deep.
“An impassable island with huge cliffs juts out of the ocean,” reports the park on its website about the approximately 20-minute show in the Portugal theme area. “There, rough-necked pirates vie for a mysterious hidden treasure that rests at the bottom of the sea.”
The “Atlantica SuperSplash” water ride should be back in operation shortly, the spokesman said. During the summer season, Europa-Park is open daily from 9 a.m. to at least 6 p.m. It is Germany’s largest amusement park. Last year, more than six million people came to the complex with roller coasters and other attractions in the Ortenau district near the German-French border – that was a record.
Almost two months ago, there was a fire in the “Yomi Magical World of Diamonds”. According to the findings at the time, a technical defect may have triggered the fire. An expert opinion on the cause of the fire was commissioned. Two firefighters were slightly injured in a large-scale operation involving hundreds of rescue workers. Two family attractions ran through the damaged building: the “Alpenexpress “Enzian” and the “Tiroler Wildwasserbahn”.
Note: This article has been updated several times.