Eisbachbaden: harmless fun or deadly gambling?

Eisbachbaden: harmless fun or deadly gambling?

The ice stream round in the English garden is a popular meeting place for Munich and tourists on warm summer days. But as pleasant as the bathing pleasure looks, it is so dangerous. According to T-Online is banned in the ice stream. The Bavarian Palace Administration (BSV) has set up warning signs and carries out regular checks, but many, especially young people and families, ignore the ban and jump into the water in good weather.

The dangers in the Eisbach are diverse. Strong currents and underflooring as well as several thresholds and a dangerous weir system make bathing extremely risky there. Again and again there are accidents that do not always end lightly. A fatal event in which a 33-year-old surfer died tragically in April has re-lived up to the discussion about the dangers in the Eisbach. After this incident, surfing on the wave at the Haus der Kunst was prohibited, while the investigation by the public prosecutor's office was still ongoing. Protests from the surf scene brought the topic further into the media, but the wave remains closed. Downstream is not affected by this regulation, but are also in an extremely dangerous area.

The role of warnings

according to Bavarian Radio is criticized. It is only in German what could be a problem for many tourists. The visibility of the pictograms also leaves something to be desired; They are small and partially covered by nettles. The BSV takes care of the maintenance of the signs, but it remains unclear whether the last inspections took place in good time before a recently known missing person.

The dangers are particularly pronounced for young men between the ages of 20 and 30, as forester warn. Overwhelming and overestimation of your own skills are common causes of accidents. Group compulsion can lead to inexperienced swimmers even enter the rather dangerous waters. The DLRG emphasizes that swimming in the Eisbach should only take place with experienced companions.

practical information for swimmers

For all those who still want to accept the challenge in the Eisbach, there are some important information. The entry takes place on the pedestrian bridge behind the large Eisbach wave, but the exit about 100 meters in front of the small Eisbach wave on the Tivolibrücke. Swimmers should be aware of the strong current and make sure to avoid obstacles such as glass residues in the water. Even after the re -entry, you should make sure to get one of the exit leaders quickly so as not to get in mortal danger.