Freestyler filling with water and sinking fast: Access bridge breaks, it's impossible to reach the raft

The nightclub Freestyler, located on a raft, has started to sink deeper and deeper into the Sava River in Belgrade, and the reason is the breaking of the access bridge.

A Telegraf.rs crew was on the promenade this morning and noticed that the back part of the raft was completely submerged, and that water had penetrated into the front part as well. The raft cannot be accessed.

Several firefighters arrived at the scene where the sinking vessel is located, and left after assessing the situation.

Even today, there were many fellow citizens in front of the vessel, including owners of other rafts, who told Telegraf.rs that it cannot completely undock.

"It has been said that it cannot be touched for 15 days, otherwise it could be pulled out in a few minutes. It won't undock because the cables are holding it, and the water is shallow there. It has already sunk as deep as it can go," they told us.

Just as we were near the Freestyler, in the Third Basic Public Prosecutor's Office, the venue's owner was presenting a statement in his defense. As we have learned, he denied the crime he is accused of.

Freestyler's director and manager, who have also been arrested, are presenting their statements as well.

The Freestyler raft began to sink just a few minutes after midnight on New Year's Eve. The first results of the investigation indicate that there were about 700 people on board. The raft is licensed to hold 220 people.

On Monday, members of the 5th Department of the criminal investigations police (UKP) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia (MUP) in cooperation with the Third Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade ordered manager Dragan V. (46), director Marko R. (51) and the owner, Greek citizen Markos L. (51), to be detained.

If put on trial and found guilty, they face sentences ranging from 1 to 8 years in prison.

(Telegraf.rs)