In the height of the winter vacation season, with thousands of visitors exploring the region, a tourist excursion ended in tragedy at Iguazú National Park on the Brazilian side. A boat operated by Macuco Safari overturned on the Iguazú River during the customary ride that brings passengers close to the waterfalls, leaving a 26-year-old Dutch tourist dead.
On board the rubber dinghy were eight people: six tourists and two crew members. The deceased victim was traveling with the family of his girlfriend — his partner, her parents, her sister-in-law, and the latter’s boyfriend — on a short stay that began Monday the 27th and was scheduled to end on Thursday the 30th.
How the capsize occurred and the rescue on the Iguazú River
According to information provided by the RCP network (affiliated with O Globo TV) and local media, the incident took place around midday on Tuesday. For reasons that are still being determined, the vessel lost its stability and capsized in the middle of the river, causing all passengers and crew to plunge into the water immediately.
The park’s own emergency response team and rescue personnel acted promptly to rescue the eight people aboard, including the pilot and the co-pilot.
Medical assistance and the status of the survivors
According to the official report from the Fire Department, the 26-year-old man suffered cardiac arrest at the moment of the accident. After receiving initial resuscitation from park staff, he was transported by boat to the Kattamaram Dry Port, where an ambulance took him to the Municipal Padre Germano Lauck Hospital in Foz do Iguaçu, where his death was later confirmed.
Another member of the group was taken to the same health facility for evaluation. Meanwhile, four of the tourists — three women and one man — received on-site treatment for contusions and shock, and later left to reunite with their families without needing hospitalization. The pilot and co-pilot requested assistance at the dry port and were evaluated by firefighters before being referred to an Emergency Care Unit.
Official investigation by the Navy and the Civil Police
Subsequently, Brazilian Navy personnel were dispatched to the area to supervise the response operations and initiate the appropriate procedures. The Paraná River Fluvial Captaincy confirmed the opening of a formal investigation aimed at determining “the circumstances, causes, and responsibilities related to the incident.”
In parallel, personnel from the Civil Police of Brazil arrived at Iguazú National Park in the afternoon to collect testimonies and inspect the area where the boat tour operates.
The water flow context at the Falls
The tragic event occurred amid a period of markedly rising water levels in the Iguazú River. In recent days, authorities at Iguazú National Park (on the Argentine side) had been forced to close access to the Devil’s Gorge walkway as a precaution due to the strong increase in water force.
Although pedestrian access on the Argentine side has since been reopened after safety parameters stabilized, Brazilian authorities have not yet confirmed whether the water volume or current directly influenced the capsize of the Macuco Safari boat.
