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86-year-old falls car into Ems-Jade Canal: Dramatic rescue!
An 86-year-old fell her car into the Ems-Jade Canal in Wilhelmshaven on November 10, 2025. The fire department rescued her.
86-year-old falls car into Ems-Jade Canal: Dramatic rescue!
On Monday morning, November 10, 2025, there was a surprising traffic accident in Wilhelmshaven that worried many passers-by and residents. An 86-year-old woman fell into the Ems-Jade Canal with her VW Golf. The emergency call reported around 7 a.m. that a vehicle had gotten into a water-bearing ditch. It is still unclear what exactly led to this incident, but the woman lost control of her car in the area of the Kanalweg, about 100 meters before the junction with Ebkeriege Street, and veered off the road to the left.
The senior citizen's VW Golf began to spin and eventually fell into the canal. The Wilhelmshaven fire department reacted quickly and was soon on site with an inflatable boat to rescue the woman from the cold water. Fortunately, she only sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital for further evaluation. The car was also recovered from the canal while police continue to investigate the accident to find out exactly what happened.
The Ems-Jade Canal: An important transport hub
The Ems-Jade Canal, into whose waters the 86-year-old fell, connects the Ems near Emden with the Jade Bay near Wilhelmshaven and is of great importance not only for private traffic, but also for the economy. With a length of 72.3 kilometers, built between 1880 and 1888, the canal is part of the East Frisian drainage infrastructure. It is operated by the Lower Saxony State Office for Water Management, Coastal and Nature Conservation and has several important structures, including the Kessel lock in Emden and the Kaiser Wilhelm Bridge in Wilhelmshaven.
Ships can travel through the canal at a maximum speed of 8 km/h and it is permitted for vessels up to 33 meters long and 1.7 meters draft. The canal is particularly important for the transport of materials such as gravel, fertilizer and scrap, making it an economic lifeblood of the region. In addition, there are efforts to further promote the use of the canal for tourism, so that passenger shipping and leisure activities also become more important.
However, an accident like today's reminds us that such waterways can also pose dangers. Residents and the city administration are now called upon to increase safety for all road users and to take preventive measures so that similar incidents can be avoided in the future. Local police will continue their investigation to clarify the exact circumstances of the accident.
For Wilhelmshaven, despite all the challenges, the Ems-Jade Canal remains an important element in the infrastructure and a symbol of the connection between land and water.