365 days a year

Selfless water rescuers are ready for action

The Klopein water rescuers were called out on 48 missions in 2023.(Bild: Wasserretter)

36 rescue workers sacrifice their free time at Lake Klopein to save lives. They appeal to people's common sense.

"We are on standby 365 days a year. During the summer months, two people are stationed at Lake Klopeiner See every day," says Kurt Smolle, head of the Lake Klopeiner See rescue team. The volunteer rescuers, who sacrifice their free time for the safety of others, are stationed at Campingbad Nord. "Our area is huge and stretches from the Annabrücke power station to the Edling power station." Eight divers and eleven river rescuers are on the team.

Appeal from the water rescuers: "Don't go out when there's a weather warning!"(Bild: Wasserretter)

The rescuers don't understand one thing: "There's a storm warning system on Lake Klopein that sounds the alarm with an orange light. We don't understand why people still go into the water when these lights are flashing around the lake. Just this week we had to rescue stand-up paddlers and swimmers from the lake who went out into the water despite the warning."

On August 3 (6 p.m.), the water rescuers are hosting a summer party at the ÖWR office in Camping Nord. There will be live music, a lucky draw, food and drink.