Austrian Captain Missing After Falling Overboard in Croatia

Croatian authorities initiated an extensive search for an Austrian captain who fell overboard from a catamaran in the Adriatic Sea on Sunday. The incident happened near the island of Šolta amid very unfavorable weather conditions, including strong winds and high waves, according to the Croatian Ministry of the Sea.

The National Maritime Coordination Center received the report at 9:10 AM local time. Six other crew members, also Austrian citizens, were aboard the catamaran and unharmed. The 46-year-old captain reportedly fell while trying to untangle a rope from the ship's propeller. The crew attempted to throw him a rope, but he could not reach it and disappeared from sight within minutes due to the strong current.

Croatia, a popular Mediterranean tourist destination that hosted nearly 22 million visitors last year, attracts many tourists to its coastline and islands. Yachting tourism, in particular, is growing in popularity within the country.

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The crew tried to throw him a rope, which he could have grabbed, but he couldn't reach it and after a few minutes, they lost sight of him.