Disregard for gondolier's advice leads to unexpected dip in Venice: Viral video
What was meant to be a pleasurable gondola ride in Venice for a band of Asian tourists ended in an unplanned plunge in the canal. The entire incident was brought on by their disregard for the gondolier's instructions, all in the name of a selfie.
4:46 PM EST, December 8, 2023
The tourist group, who opted to explore Venice's most famous waterway, surely did not foresee this watery ending to their adventure. As per a report by The Telegraph, the Chinese tourists shifted around the boat, swapped seats, and indulged in photography despite the gondolier's stern cautioning about the danger of their actions and urging them to remain seated.
The situation quickly escalated when the gondolier attempted a complex maneuver under a bridge near St. Mark's Square. Wishing to capture the moment collectively, the group positioned themselves at one end of the gondola for a photo, leading to a dangerous weight imbalance. As a result, the boat tipped over. The group found themselves fluttering in the canal, submerged in chilling water at approximately 55°F. The gondolier, finding himself in the same situation, rallied to rescue his passengers.
The entire episode, caught on video, has since garnered considerable attention online. The video displays bewildered tourists clinging to the underside of the gondola, flailing their arms in the cold, murky water, and desperately trying in vain to save their mobile phones.
Thankfully, there were no injuries. The unfortunate tourists received aid and a cozy place to regain warmth at the closeby La Fenice opera house.
The video was circulated on a social media account titled "Venezia non è Disneyland" translating to "Venice is not Disneyland." This account is known for posting documentation of instances demonstrating reckless behaviors by tourists such as skinny-dipping in the canals, wakeboarding, or jumping into the canal from the roofs of historical buildings.
