Drunk Tourists on Boat Run Aground Among Swimmers in Istria
The incident occurred Monday afternoon between Barbariga and Mon Perin camp. Witnesses claim the tourists were intoxicated and responded to warnings by showing their middle fingers.
The incident occurred Monday afternoon between Barbariga and Mon Perin camp. Witnesses claim the tourists were intoxicated and responded to warnings by showing their middle fingers.
On the western coast of Istria, between Barbariga and Mon Perin camp near Bale, a serious incident at sea was recorded on Monday afternoon. A group of foreign tourists in a rented boat endangered swimmers by speeding close to them, and the entire event was captured on video by witnesses on the beach.
The incident occurred on August 10, 2026, at around 3 p.m. According to a reader of Index.hr who sent the footage, the tourists were moving extremely close to the shore and an area with a large number of swimmers, creating a direct danger for people in the water.
The footage shows two men and one woman on the boat. At one point, they entered the shallow water where they unsuccessfully tried to get going again, while several swimmers were in the water around them. In the background, disapproval from other people on the beach can be heard.
"Their behavior at sea gave the impression of extreme inexperience and irresponsibility. They were moving close to the shore and an area with a large number of swimmers, creating a danger for people in the water," described the Index.hr reader.
He added that the tourists had previously been at a nearby beach bar and then returned to the boat "in a visibly intoxicated state."
The tourists' reaction to warnings from people on the beach further enraged those present. "They did not respond to warnings from people on the beach in a way that would calm the situation. On the contrary, as they were leaving, they showed their middle fingers," reported the Index.hr reader.
"I find it particularly concerning that vessels are being operated by individuals who clearly lack sufficient knowledge or do not respect the rules of safe navigation, which can seriously endanger swimmers as well as other vessels and their passengers," the reader added.
The reader personally reported the incident to the police, and the Istrian Police Department confirmed to Index.hr that they received a report about unknown individuals speeding among swimmers in a boat with Croatian registration plates in the Barbariga area.
"The police, in cooperation with the competent harbor master's office, are conducting activities to establish the identity of the person operating the boat as well as other circumstances of the event," the Istrian police stated.
The police also reminded of legal provisions and announced increased controls at sea. "We remind that the maritime police, together with the harbor master's office and the coast guard, through coordinated activities at sea, especially during the tourist season, will conduct enhanced activities at sea with the aim of increasing navigation safety. On this occasion, we call on boaters to adhere to the provisions prohibiting speeding at a distance of less than 300 meters from the shore and to take care of the safety of swimmers and other participants at sea," the statement from the Istrian Police Department reads.
