A Hungarian man parked his truck on the shoulder of a highway, then jumped into a river from a bridge. This action brought about a rescue operation with numerous emergency responders attempting to save him. Even the police dispatched a helicopter for the search. However, surprisingly, the man wasn’t trying to commit suicide; he just wanted to cool off. Nevertheless, he received a fine for his dangerous behavior.
According to reports from the International Association on August 15, the police in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, posted on social media that someone observed a man parking his truck on the shoulder of the A16 highway at the Moerdijk Bridge, and then jumping into the Hollands Diep river (the river under the Moerdijk Bridge), seemingly with suicidal intentions.
Upon receiving the report, the police sent a helicopter to the scene for investigation. Firefighters, paramedics, and water rescue personnel rushed to the location in an effort to save the man’s life.
When the rescue teams arrived, they found the man had climbed onto a ladder under the bridge and was waving to a passing boat before eventually returning to shore by hitching a ride back. The outcome was completely different from what they had anticipated.
The police said, “The Hungarian truck driver thought it was a beautiful and warm summer evening, just like we do. When he arrived at the Moerdijk Bridge, he thought it was time to cool off.”
The authorities mentioned that the driver decided to park his truck on the shoulder and jump off the bridge into the river, only to realize that it was much riskier than he had imagined.
The police stated, “The truck driver learned another life lesson, as he received a fine for parking on the shoulder and jumping off the bridge. We are pleased that this incident ended well in the end!”
Speaking of river jumps, recently in Berlin, Germany, hundreds of people plunged into the Spree river to protest against the century-old ban on swimming in the river.
According to reports from Central News Agency, the ban on swimming in the Spree river dates back to 1925 when industrial and domestic waste polluted the river, causing poor water quality. The municipal authorities prohibited swimming for public health and safety reasons. This ban has persisted for a hundred years until today.
Guided by lifeguards and loudspeakers arranged by the organizers, 700 local residents jumped into the river on August 12 under 30-degree Celsius temperatures, urging the Berlin authorities to lift the long-standing ban. Participants joyfully jumped into the water, accompanied by electronic music playing on the shore, creating a refreshing summer party atmosphere.
The district mayor of Berlin-Mitte, as well as some members of the Green Party and the Left Party, attended to show support, advocating for the establishment of a designated swimming area in the Spree river in central Berlin, following the example of the Seine river in Paris.
However, the department responsible for transportation and environmental affairs of the Berlin city government maintains a reserved stance on these protest demands. The department emphasized that the Spree river is a federal waterway that must ensure passage of ships, with concerns still surrounding its water quality. The ban on swimming will not be changed in the short term to ensure the safety of the citizens.
In a developing story, it seems that people around the world are finding creative ways to tackle hot summer days and advocate for changes in public policies, whether it’s seeking a cool dip in the river or participating in organized protests for a relaxing swim.