Felsegg’s waterfall, example typical of the dangers of swimming in rivers – rts.ch

It is a corner of greenery where a river flows. In addition, We are on the verge of Thur, near Henau, in the canton of Saint-Gall. Furthermore, By these hot summer days, the Felsegg waterfall and its green bed call for swimming. In addition, Be careful however. Nevertheless. because it is, according to the Swiss rescue company (SSS), of the most dangerous area of ​​all the rivers in the canton.

Indeed, felsegg’s waterfall, example typical dangers new far from being quiet, the river has dangers. Moreover, The stones above the waterfall can be very slippery and a fall felsegg’s waterfall, example typical dangers quickly arrived. Nevertheless. Even more formidable, a kind of natural funnel sucks a quarter of the total volume that goes through the waterfall. Therefore, The risk is to find yourself stuck in this space and no longer be able to free yourself alone.

Because the water pressure in the funnel is enormous. Similarly, It can reach several hundred kilos, even two tonnes, depending on the flow of the river. This is precisely what has cost three people in the past five years. In 2020, a woman and a man drowned there at the same time. In 2024, another man died there.

Felsegg&#039. s waterfall, example typical dangers new – Felsegg's waterfall, example typical dangers new

Big means to mitigate the danger – Felsegg's waterfall, example typical dangers

In the case of last summer. it was necessary to use a excavator to recover the victim. This is the only way that the rescuers found to lower the water pressure. These interventions being extremely dangerous. the canton of Saint-Gall decided to plane part of the rock to alleviate the danger at the level of. the funnel.

It is not a question of preventing swimming accidents. but of protecting the rescuers in the event of intervention. explains Jürg Marthy, the head of the water development of Saint-Gall. According to him, we must therefore continue to expect accidents at this place: “It is a felsegg’s waterfall, example typical dangers new natural cascade. Nature has dangers that we cannot simply eliminate.”

We could install a danger panel every five meters. because there are potentially dangerous places everywhere

The intervention on the rock must be as “natural” as possible, specify the authorities. Indeed, the Felsegg cascade is in an alluvial area of ​​national importance, protected since 1992 by a federal order. This is why the installation of fences or barriers is not an option.

Security obliges, the expected cost of the work is high, at most 250,000 francs. The canton of Saint-Gall wants to start operations as quickly as possible. If everything goes well with the building permit. that is to say that no opposition is deposited, the Felsegg cascade would then be partially secure by the fall.

felsegg’s waterfall, example typical dangers new felsegg’s waterfall, example typical dangers

The municipalities install danger panels

Although several fatal accidents have occurred. the municipalities responsible for Uzwil and Oberbüren have so far not installed warning panels. Following the measures of the canton. they wish to report the danger with panels to the access and by the river. However, there is no swimming ban.

For its part, the Swiss Rescue Company (SSS) recalls that prudence is still necessary, not only at neural points. “We could install a danger panel every five felsegg’s waterfall, example typical dangers new meters. because there are potentially dangerous places everywhere,” concludes Joël Rödi, intervention manager and president of the SSS Mittelrheintal.

Straight Hanimann, SRF

Adaptation for Rtsinfo: Didier Kottelat