13 politicians die after diving through dam turbines

[trux]

I just read about a rather tragic but somehow curious accident that happened on the river Sava in Slovenia. Local mayor organized a canoe trip on the river Sava before the completion of a dam that will change it. The journey was symbolically named "The Last Descent". Two big canoes with 14 prominent politicians and other local personalties, capsized in the strong current at the dam gates and were sucked into the pipe leading to the hydro turbines. Both canoes and passengers were then passed through the tunnel and ejected at the bottom of the dam. Three women managed to get to the bank living, but two of them did not survive due to serious injuries and died later in hospital. The mayor died in the accident too.

Although it is a great tragedy for the families, relatives, friends, and perhaps the community too, I have the feeling the story may end on the Darwin Award website. I do not know how long or deep the tunnel was, but I hope there won't be many followers trying such an adrenaline freediving ride.

Well, on the other hand, reading visitor comments on diverse news websites, it is apparent a lot of people would love their own politicians were also such adventurers. Many of the readers proposed paying a trip for some (or even all) of their politicians.

There are some links here, but it will be soon available everywhere, I am sure:

Na slovinské pøehradì zemøelo 13 politikù, kteøí jeli na výlet - iDNES.cz
Police: 7 dead, 5 still missing after kayakers run into a dam in Slovenia - International Herald Tribune
BBC NEWS | Europe | Disaster hits Slovenian canoeists

[Fondueset]

We need to organize more canoe trips for our politicians here in the states.

[Huw]

RIP. condolences to all involved.

[rogam44]

It seems they didn't go through turbines but over the weir. It was deadly anyway. Moving water has unbelievable power. Very sad, very scary.

YouTube - Eight dead as canoeists sucked into...

[trux]

Originally Posted by rogam44

It seems they didn't go through turbines but over the weir. It was deadly anyway. Moving water has unbelievable power. Very sad, very scary.

According to several reports, they capsized after going over the edge to the dam gate as seen ot the video, but were then indeed sucked into the turbines entry pipe. The turbines were not operating though. I do not know if it is true, but those reports that are more detailed, described it in this way.

[Pastor]

Originally Posted by Fondueset

We need to organize more canoe trips for our politicians here in the states.

You have the same problem as us it seems!

Originally Posted by Billy Conolly

Anyone who wants to become a politician should be automatically excluded from elections

[felipe felop]

how do you get eight politicians in a canoe to go over a weir into a water turbine & through the same hole at once,mmm now let me see
1.did they phone a friend first or go for 50/50
2.ask the audience
3.was it cos the spanish won the cup
4.was there a corned beef shortage
5.they were mugabes muckers & he would stop there pocket money
6.fathers for justice
7.council tax,food,fuel,electric,gas price increase
8.mum said there weren't allowed out to play in boats
9.paddling to work to reduce the carbon footprint
10.not listening to the the people that voted them in
11.lets play chicken
12.100 grockles says our canoe is faster than yours
13.carlsberg,probably the wildest ride of your life
14.told em the first one through gets free school dinners for the kids
15.free canoeing holidays for british politicians on hydro electric dams
16.free air miles & supermarket club points
16.watching your kids faces,cos you paid 2000 euros each for the canoes,priceless
17.cos they can't run an aston martin on left over wine,like mine
18.olympic slalom trials for the deranged
19.they came in last in the gloucester cheese rolling contest & conker championships
20.the winner of the self-slapping contest if you survived the canoe trip
i hope your article is a joke otherwise i am in trouble again, please don't take offence anyone 'cos its not meant to be malicious,ex-forces see,gotto always look on the bright side of life in the face of death,you know who you are,stay calm & dive safe & smile cos good will come from this, always does one way or the other

[Oldsarge]

Good Lord! Who came up with that mad scheme? That lip of the dam is pure whitewater canoing and those silly people were just sittin up in a lake model paddling along ineptly like they were on a farm pond. Yup, Darwin Award fodder for sure.