Three men dead in Austria's Marchfeld canal SUP accident

Three men died after their stand‑up‑paddle (SUP) boards entered the Marchfeld canal near Vienna, Austria. The victims – a 27‑year‑old, a 28‑year‑old and a third unidentified man – were found dead in the water on Thursday after a large‑scale search by police and fire crews. Investigators say the men likely became trapped in a weir’s powerful water vortex, which can pull a swimmer in at a flow of about 5,000 litres per second. The Marchfeld canal’s “no‑passage” sign and safety rope were in place, but the men apparently paddled past them. The canal operator warned that the turbulent drop, called a “Überfall,” is life‑threatening. Police are treating the case as an accident while confirming identities.

Authorities urge paddlers to respect safety warnings, avoid weirs, and wear appropriate flotation gear.