A group of tourists ended up in a canal in Venice after their gondola capsized when they refused to stop taking selfies and sit down, as instructed by the gondolier. The incident occurred near St Mark's Square as the gondolier attempted a tricky manoeuvre under a bridge, requiring balanced weight distribution.
According to local reports, the Chinese tourists were shifting around and taking selfies against the backdrop of the city's landmarks, ignoring the gondolier's orders. The boat tipped over, throwing all passengers and the gondolier into the murky water. The gondolier quickly scrambled to rescue his passengers.
The event was captured on video and widely shared online. The Instagram account 'Venezia Non è Disneyland', which documents tourist mishaps, reported that the group was brought to safety and given hospitality at the nearby La Fenice theatre.
In 2020, Venice's gondoliers' association reduced capacity on gondolas from six to five passengers for classic tours, citing the increased weight of tourists. Andrea Balbi, the association's president, noted that tourists weigh more than a decade ago.
