Tensions on the Croatian beach have escalated into an incident: a sailor hit an 18-year-old man with a paddle.

Tensions at a Croatian beach escalated into an incident when a tour guide struck an 18-year-old swimmer with a paddle. The altercation occurred near Buža, a small cove popular among locals who have been swimming there for decades. According to local media, the conflict arose after the guide used his paddle to hit the teenager following a dispute over access to the cove. In response, the municipality of Medulin announced plans to install a floating protective barrier to restrict kayaks from entering the area. Residents of Pješčana Uvala near Pula have long voiced concerns about increasing pressure on the beach, which has become a point of contention between swimmers and organized kayak tours. After the entrance to the nearby Galeb Cave was closed, some tour operators reportedly shifted their activities to Buža, drawing criticism from locals who see this as an encroachment on their traditional recreational space. The cove, though smaller than the Galeb Cave, has been marketed as an alternative experience for tourists seeking a similar thrill. Buža is a well-known spot where visitors jump from rocks into the sea, accessible via a path lined with bars along the shore. Over time, the number of kayaks arriving daily has grown significantly, often blocking the entry points and limiting swimmers' ability to jump into the water. This growing tension culminated in the recent incident involving the 18-year-old swimmer. The teenager described the moment he was struck by the paddle. He arrived at the cove between 7 and 8 PM, around the time the kayaking tour had finished its session. A guide from the company Metta Float was standing on a stand-up paddleboard near the entrance to the cove. Unaware of any instructions given to others, the teen jumped into the water approximately one meter away from the guide. As he exited the water, he felt a blow to his back from the paddle. The guide laughed and made a mocking remark. An older person on the rocks asked if it was a joke and whether the guide was known to him. When the teen replied that he didn’t know the guide, a group gathered around the guide and questioned why he had done it, telling him to try doing the same to them if he dared. According to the teen’s account, the guide initially claimed he had jumped directly at him, despite witnesses who saw otherwise. Following the incident, the guide reportedly apologized. Tihana Čurović, owner of Metta Float Outdoor Adventures Pula, expressed regret over the incident and confirmed that her company's kayaking tours would no longer visit Buža. She acknowledged the residents' desire to keep the area as their own, noting that many kayaks had been coming in and creating chaotic conditions. She stated that such behavior would not be condoned again and that her company had stopped visiting the cove. However, other groups continued to gather there, sometimes numbering five or six kayaks at once, further complicating the situation for swimmers. Local authorities have responded to the issue. Marina Jakša from the Medulin municipality confirmed that installing a floating protective barrier is currently a top priority. The cove is expected to be secured within a few days. The installation of these barriers is being carried out in collaboration with the Pučišć Harbor Authority, which has also informed the municipality in writing about the specific case. Authorities emphasized the need to ensure the safety of swimmers and may extend protections to additional beaches if necessary. The measures aim to restore order and prevent future conflicts between different user groups at the site.