Fatal accident

Forestry worker died after accident while felling trees

Symbolic image(Bild: BFVMZ/FF Altenberg)

Once again, strong winds were partly responsible for the death of a forestry worker. During felling work in a forest in Innerschwand (Upper Austria), a spruce fell in the wrong direction and slid down. A 46-year-old Romanian was swept away. The man suffered such serious injuries that he died in hospital shortly afterwards.

Four highly experienced Romanian forestry workers had been carrying out tree felling work in a forest in the Innerschwand-Hölblingkogel area since 16 January. At around 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, two of them were working in the area of a forest road about 25 meters below their 46-year-old colleague who was operating the material ropeway.

The 46-year-old was busy felling a spruce with a chainsaw. He sawed a cut about 15 centimeters deep into the tree to send it tumbling downhill.

However, apparently due to the strong winds (40 to 50 km/h), the top of the tree fell uphill, causing it to slide towards the valley. The 46-year-old was swept away by the branches and lay seriously injured on the forest floor.

His colleagues immediately rushed to his aid and set the rescue chain in motion. The Mondsee Red Cross carried out first aid in the 35 degree steep terrain. After being treated by the emergency doctor, the seriously injured man was transported safely to the forest road and taken to Salzburg State Hospital by the Christophorus 6 emergency helicopter at around 12.15 p.m., with ongoing resuscitation.

At 1.30 p.m., however, the doctors had to stop their resuscitation attempts without success. Unfortunately, the 46-year-old could no longer be helped.

According to the police, there were no indications of any third-party fault in the forest accident.