Distress at sea: Eleven fatalities on Lake Constance - water police take stock

Eleven people died in swimming and boating accidents between Bregenz, Romanshorn and Überlingen on the 530-square-kilometre lake and the 21-kilometre section of the Upper Rhine between Constance and Schaffhausen. The number of fatalities thus fell by six compared to the previous year. On the Baden-Württemberg side, the water police stations in Friedrichshafen, Constance and Überlingen registered 104 boating accidents - the highest number for ten years. The total damage caused was around 2.01 million euros.

Five of the eleven deaths were related to swimming accidents, while one other person died in another accident on the lake. The Thurgau lake police recorded 22 accidents on the Thurgau section of Lake Constance, the High Rhine and other bodies of water in the canton. Four people lost their lives and five were injured.

Record number of shipping accidents

The total number of accidents rose slightly internationally to 146. On the Baden-Württemberg side, the 104 accidents registered mark a new record in a ten-year comparison. A good half of the boating accidents occurred in harbours and on jetties while manoeuvring.

The water police recorded 28 accidents in the shore zone up to 300 metres away, 26 on the open lake and 5 in flowing waters. The most frequent types of accident were grounding (28 cases) and collisions (27 cases).

The waterway police cite a lack of care on the part of the skipper as the main cause. This includes human error, overestimating their own abilities and a lack of experience in handling boats. According to the report, many recreational boaters are too reckless and are unable to correctly assess the weather situation. Material damage caused by accidents totalled around 2.01 million euros in 2025 - significantly more than in the previous year.

Spectacular individual cases

In May, a brand-new motorboat crashed into the harbour basin in Kressbronn after a belt slipped. The boat first hit the harbour wall and then fell into the water. The fire brigade laid an oil barrier. The damage to property totalled around 1.5 million euros.

In July, a 28-year-old man died while swimming near Überlingen. A 58-year-old swimmer drowned off the island of Reichenau; his body was only found days later. In August, a 79-year-old woman got into difficulties while swimming near Ludwigshafen and lost consciousness. A stand-up paddler noticed the situation and rescued the woman. After successful resuscitation, she was taken to hospital.

A 27-year-old man died after a swimming trip at the Hörnle lido in Constance after overestimating his swimming abilities. Another man was later found dead in the Markelfinger Winkel area after a large-scale search.

Extensive rescue operations

In addition to the accident statistics, the waterway police also take stock of their operations. 241 maritime emergencies were registered in 2025, and officers were deployed 309 times on storm warning duty. The officers rescued a total of 256 people on Lake Constance.

The Thurgau lake police registered 94 emergencies at sea and rescued 174 people who would not have reached the shore on their own. In addition, 136 boats had to be rescued from distress at sea. Without help, many crews would not have reached their harbours or the shore.

Off the coast of Radolfzell, a 75-year-old boat driver went overboard after a fishing hook got caught in his jacket and he abruptly hit the tiller of his outboard motor. An angler witnessed the incident and rescued the man. Overall, the 2025 water sports season was average for the Thurgau lake police. This is probably due, among other things, to the less water sports-friendly weather conditions in the first half of the year and the lack of exceptionally severe storm events.

Low water levels characterise the year

The water level of Lake Constance was well below the long-term average for a large part of the year and in some cases approached record low levels. Towards the end of the year, the water levels normalised again.

The "Ufm Rhy" prevention campaign was continued in 2025 together with the Schaffhausen police and the Baden-Württemberg waterway police. It uses eye-catching messages to draw the attention of Rhine users to dangers such as wharfs, course ships and bridge piers and provides safety tips.

With a view to the upcoming water sports season, the water police advise boaters to keep a close eye on the weather and to have rescue equipment ready. It is particularly important to pay attention to the storm warning lights on Lake Constance. These warn of strong winds with 40 flashes of light per minute and of storms with 90 flashes per minute - usually around an hour before dangerous conditions materialise.