Kyiv residents have been warned about the dangers of jumping off the Venetian Bridge in Hydropark
Diving off bridges remains one of the most dangerous pastimes, but the risk is even higher at the Venetian Bridge in Kyiv’s Hydropark. Lifeguards and eyewitnesses are urging visitors to refrain from extreme jumps due to the presence of sharp pieces of rebar underwater, which can cause serious injury or death.
Senior beach lifeguard Andriy Zolotukhin, who has been working there since 2019, released a video of a conversation with a visitor who felt metal objects underwater while diving.
According to the man, he felt the metal with his foot and then asked the lifeguard whether there really was rebar under the bridge and whether it could pose a life-threatening danger.
Zolotukhin confirmed that there are indeed dangerous metal structures on the riverbed and emphasized that hitting or colliding with them while jumping from a height could be fatal.
Eyewitnesses report that people regularly gather on the bridge to jump into the water, despite the warnings. Some of them are intoxicated, while others merely watch and encourage risky behavior instead of intervening or calling the police.
Videos showing a crowd on the bridge and people jumping into the water have gone viral on social media.
Users are actively discussing the situation, emphasizing the danger and irresponsibility of such actions. Among the comments:
- “One person was already taken away yesterday with a broken spine and damaged kidneys.”
- “And everyone just stands there watching instead of trying to talk them out of it.”
- “Twenty people have died jumping off the bridge. Now there’s a 21st. And he’s a cop, too!”
- “Is the police even doing anything in this city?”
- “Natural selection.”
There’s also criticism of those who encourage people to jump and don’t stop these dangerous actions.
Experts emphasize that jumping from bridges and engineering structures is strictly prohibited. Due to the unknown topography of the riverbed and the presence of structural debris, such activities can lead to serious injuries or instant death.
As a reminder, from June 22 to July 15, traffic on Lesya Ukrainka Boulevard in the Pechersk district of Kyiv will be partially restricted due to the installation of road barriers in the median strip.
In addition, the Kyiv City Council of Trade Unions has agreed to a phased increase in public transportation fares in the capital.
