A picturesque canal tour in the historic city of Bruges took a terrifying and soaking wet turn for a group of unsuspecting tourists, as captured in a now-viral video.
The footage shows a seemingly serene sightseeing boat approaching a low brick bridge, a common feature on the city's ancient waterways. Unlike the dozens of boats that pass under it safely every day, this one did not clear the structure.
Instead of gliding underneath, the boat's canopy slammed directly into the bridge with a jarring scrape. In a heart-stopping instant, the rigid roof was violently pushed down towards the passengers.
Panic erupted on deck as tourists screamed and frantically ducked for cover, scrambling to get as low as possible to avoid being struck by the collapsing canopy. The force of the impact sent a huge wave of canal water washing over the sides of the vessel, drenching everyone on board.
The boat eventually came to a halt, lodged under the bridge as the shaken and soaked tourists assessed the situation. The operator can be heard in the background, and the incident is now under investigation by local authorities.
While no serious injuries were reported, the event serves as a stark reminder for tour operators to remain vigilant of height restrictions on these popular routes. For the passengers, it was a dramatic and unforgettable end to what was supposed to be a relaxing trip through the "Venice of the North."
