Three Czech tourists killed, one missing after catamaran and sailboat collide off Split
A French-flagged sailboat carrying eight Czech nationals collided with a passenger catamaran in the Adriatic near Split on Sunday, leaving three dead, one missing and four pulled from the water.
The collision
A passenger catamaran operated by a private Croatian company collided with a sailboat flying the French flag in the Splitska vrata strait, between the islands of Šolta and Brač, shortly before 11:30 on Sunday. The catamaran had 118 passengers and seven crew on board; no one on that vessel was injured. The sailboat, with eight people aboard, sank after the impact.
Casualties and survivors
Three of the eight people on the sailboat died, and one remains missing. Four others were rescued from the sea and taken to a local hospital. Their injuries are not life-threatening. The Croatian Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure confirmed the death toll and said search efforts were continuing on Sunday afternoon.
- Dead
- 3
- Missing
- 1
- Rescued
- 4
Eyewitness accounts
A Flemish tourist aboard the catamaran described the moment of impact.
I suddenly heard a bang along the right front of the boat. We saw only debris. Further away people were in the water.
A man who recorded video of the aftermath can be heard reacting on the audio.
There is a man in the water. Damn, he's covered in blood.
Official response
Štěpán Šantrůček, head of the consular department at the Czech embassy in Zagreb, confirmed to Czech Radio that the three dead were Czech citizens. Foreign ministry spokesman Adam Čörgő called the news “exceptionally sad” and said a consul was on site liaising with local authorities.
Today we were struck by exceptionally sad news of the death of at least three Czech citizens after a yacht collided with a catamaran in Croatia. Our thoughts are also with the other injured who remain in the care of doctors. We express our sincere condolences to the bereaved and the loved ones of the victims.
Rescue and disruption
The Croatian National Search and Rescue Centre in Rijeka coordinated an operation involving harbour master boats, police vessels and a helicopter. Several key passenger lines to the islands of Vis and Brač were cancelled; the ferry company suspended its remaining Hvar–Split voyages for the day.
- Catamaran and sailboat collide in Splitska vrata strait between Šolta and Brač.
- Sailboat sinks; four occupants pulled from water; one person seen covered in blood.
- Three deaths confirmed; search for one missing person launched with boats and helicopter.
- Czech consul confirms dead are Czech citizens; four survivors hospitalised.
- Ferry operator cancels remaining Hvar–Split services; maritime traffic disrupted.
