The Ruhrverband warns against swimming in the Ruhr and jumping off bridges

The tragic death of a 14-year-old boy in the Ruhr last weekend is a painful reminder of the risks associated with swimming in rivers and other natural bodies of water. The Ruhrverband is using this incident as an opportunity to once again highlight the often underestimated dangers of swimming outside official bathing areas.

On warm days in particular, a dip in the cool water seems tempting. However, rivers differ fundamentally from controlled bathing areas or swimming pools. Swimming in the Ruhr is prohibited outside the designated bathing areas at Seaside Beach in Essen, in Bochum Dahlhausen and in Mülheim. Forces and dangers lurk beneath the water’s surface that are often not visible to swimmers. Currents can form at weirs, bridge piers or narrows and catch even experienced swimmers by surprise. Added to this are natural rapids, varying water depths and suddenly changing conditions in the water. A particular problem is that the danger is often not visible. Areas that appear calm and harmless at first glance may have undercurrents or deep spots beneath the surface that pose a danger. Differences in water temperature can also put a strain on the circulation and suddenly impair physical performance.

In addition to the dangers of swimming itself, the Ruhrverband has also been observing a worrying trend for years: time and again, young people in particular seek thrills by jumping from bridges, dams or other structures into the waters managed by the Ruhrverband.

Such incidents are regularly reported at Lake Sorpe and Lake Möhne. In Essen, the Ruhrverband has also received repeated reports in recent years of people jumping from the railway bridge in Kupferdreh. One major risk, for example, is that the actual depth of the water is often misjudged. The Ruhr, for instance, is only around 1.70 metres deep in the area of the Kupferdreh railway bridge. Even a single misjudged jump can lead to severe injuries to the head, spine or internal organs.

Conditions at reservoirs can also change within a short space of time. Due to fluctuating water levels, a spot that appears deep enough one day may be significantly shallower shortly afterwards. There may also be rocks, branches or other obstacles beneath the water’s surface that are not visible.

At the quarry in Delecke on Lake Möhnesee, another hotspot, there is an additional risk. The area is designated as a diving spot. There, one must always expect people to be underwater or to surface suddenly.

The Ruhrverband therefore urges people not to risk their health and lives for a brief adrenaline rush. Safe water recreation is available exclusively at the designated bathing areas at the reservoirs and at Baldeneysee. Information on the approved bathing areas can be found at www.ruhrverband.de/sport-freizeit/baden.

Furthermore, the Ruhrverband points out that jumping from bridges or similar structures into the waters managed by the Ruhrverband contravenes the recreational regulations and may be punished as an administrative offence.