WAC-Boss Riegler's Yacht Sinks! Ten People Rescued
What was supposed to be a leisurely trip near Trieste ended in disaster. All passengers remained unharmed, but the boat now rests on the seabed.
"We were on our way towards Trieste around noon, just half an hour into the boat trip. And suddenly, out of the blue, water started coming in," explained Waltraud Riegler, wife of WAC President Dietmar Riegler, to the "Krone" on Saturday.
The couple – along with eight other guests – had actually just intended to enjoy a pleasant boat trip on Saturday on the family's yacht "Diwa II" in the Italian Adriatic.
Boat Lies 16 Meters Deep on Seabed
When water suddenly entered the 14-meter-long yacht, an emergency call was made. "Then things moved quite quickly – passing boats immediately picked us up, and then the fire department and police arrived," said Waltraud Riegler.
"Everyone was rescued, nothing happened to any of us, fortunately, we all remained unharmed. But the boat simply couldn't be saved." According to the Italian daily newspaper "Il Piccolo," the boat now lies 16 meters deep on the seabed, making recovery difficult.
Presumed Technical Defect
The exact reason for the sudden ingress of water has not yet been found: "There were no signs whatsoever. A technical defect is suspected. It's unbelievable," said the wife of the WAC president.
