Navigarda Responsible for Surfer’s Injury in 1998 Lake Torbole Incident

August 5, 1998. In the waters off the bay of Torbole, a German surfer was struck in the face by a glass bottle thrown by a person aboard a Navigarda boat.

For the compensation of the permanent physical damages suffered by the tourist, who had to undergo eye surgery to insert a contact lens, a civil lawsuit was filed against Navigarda.

Outcome of the criminal proceedings

The criminal proceedings initiated by the Rovereto prosecutor’s office following the report filed by the German, which was made against unknown persons, will lead nowhere: substitute prosecutor Biasi has already archived it.

The investigation aimed at identifying the responsible party ended in failure because none of the witnesses, including the surfer himself, could specify exactly who was responsible.

The only thing that has been established is that the person who threw the bottle at the unfortunate German (who apparently had the sole fault of being unintentionally inside the boat’s dedicated corridor; he was trying to move out of the way, but fell into the water and was hit by the object while attempting to stand up on his board) was a crew member.

Description of the suspect

A man with light hair, possibly gray, wearing a light blue short-sleeved shirt and standing near the wheelhouse.

In the absence of a concrete culprit, it will be Navigarda that must answer for this reckless act.