Gondola capsized ‘when tourists refused to sit down and stop taking selfies’

This is the moment an Italian gondola loaded with tourists capsized after they refused to sit down and stop taking photos.

The gondolier in Venice had been trying to navigate his boat under a bridge.

But his passengers did not heed his orders to sit – resulting in the chaotic moment.

Local press said the group, from China, had been taking selfies when the incident happened.

The holidaymakers could be seen gasping for breath while they held to gondola in the cold water.

One woman could be seen trying to desperately pull herself up onto another passing boat as she asked someone to take her phone.

The gondolier rescued one of his passengers before returning to the others, local media said.

The group fell into the icy waters (Picture: CEN)

The boat tipped over after trying to go under a bridge (Picture: CEN)

The tourists clung to nearby boats in an effort to get back on land(Picture: CEN)

Temperatures in Venice had dropped below freezing on the day of accident.

In 2020, Venice reduced the numbers of tourists allowed on their famous gondolas because of ‘fat tourists’.

Andrea Balbi, the president of Venice’s Gondola Association, said at the time: ‘Tourists are now overweight. From some countries, it’s like bombs loading on and when (the boat) is fully loaded, the hull sinks and water enters.

‘Advancing with over half a tonne of meat on board is dangerous.’

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