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A serious accident occurred at the Eisbach wave in Munich, where a surfer sustained severe injuries after her leash became entangled in the riverbed's stones. Following the incident, her partner filed a complaint alleging negligent bodily harm.
The accident happened on a Wednesday evening when the 33-year-old surfer was submerged underwater for an extended period. Despite the efforts of fellow surfers, including at least one experienced Eisbach rider, it took the intervention of the fire department to rescue her. Currently, her condition is described as critical but stable.
The Eisbach wave has been closed since the accident. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, particularly whether any objects were thrown into the river that could have contributed to the surfer's leash getting caught. However, police have dismissed rumors suggesting that the water level would be lowered for these investigations.
According to Moritz von Sivers, a representative of the Munich Surfing Association, the real danger lies beneath the wave, where several stones protrude from the riverbed. These stones, roughly the size of bricks, are meant to prevent erosion but can pose a risk to surfers. Von Sivers noted that it is indeed possible for a leash to snag on these stones, which can lead to dangerous situations.
In the aftermath of the incident, there are calls for greater awareness regarding leash safety. Von Sivers expressed his belief that similar accidents could happen to any surfer, regardless of their level of experience. He highlighted the need for leashes that automatically release under tension and suggested that signage warning surfers of these hazards could be beneficial.
The accident took place shortly after dark, which may have compounded the difficulty in rescuing the surfer. The strong current of the Eisbach can make it challenging to locate someone submerged, especially when visibility is limited. Fellow surfers often bring lights to illuminate the wave; however, anything outside of these lighted areas becomes nearly invisible.
Officials hope to respond appropriately to this incident without imposing long-term restrictions on access to the Eisbach. The wave has been a popular surfing spot for decades, and this incident marks one of the first serious injuries recorded. Von Sivers argued that just as ski resorts do not close off slopes following accidents, the Eisbach should remain accessible to surfers.
The city of Munich has maintained a policy where surfers assume the risks associated with surfing on the Eisbach. Since 2010, the city has held limited liability for injuries incurred, unless there is clear evidence of gross negligence in monitoring the area.
This policy was notably impacted by the discontinuation of regular river inspections, which had previously taken place every 1.5 years. Since the last inspection in October 2022, there have been no documented inspections, raising concerns about the safety of the surfing environment.
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