A baby remains

The joy of the farm died with the father of the family

This baby will never know his daddy. . .

(Bild: Christa Blümel)

So shocking: this year alone, forestry work has claimed an incredible five lives in Styria. The families left behind are devastated. Including a baby just a few weeks old. The dream child who will now never meet his dad. . .

November 21, 2023 - from that day onwards, the farm high up on the mountain was simply filled with unbridled joy, "sometimes we couldn't believe our luck, we would have loved to go through life with a big smile on our faces all day long," says the young Styrian, wistfully remembering. The absolute dream child had come into the world, a ray of sunshine that made the four-generation house, where everyone gets on well, shine. "We were so full of optimism, we had so many dreams!" The wedding was already planned, a second baby, the extension to the farm. Countless pictures of little Max were taken and hung up in the apartment.

Now there is a photo of his dad on the dining table. A candle next to it. And the party note. The young farmer is dead, two weeks after his 30th birthday. And with him the joy, the light, the hope in the house.

The day had started early in the morning, like any other. The young farmer was looking after the 16 dairy cows with his parents, who had given him the farm two years ago. Carefully, tidily - but a little more quickly than in previous years. "Because he wanted to see his baby straight away," says the young widow. "He was completely infatuated with Max and wanted to look after our baby in the morning, change him and cuddle him a lot." Then he left the house for woodwork just a few hundred meters away with a cheerful "Bye, see you later!" on his lips. He wanted to be back by lunchtime. 

Forestry work had already claimed five lives this year!

(Bild: Sepp Pail)

There were already visitors at the table, good friends who wanted to see the adorable baby. The schnitzel, freshly baked by the young farmer's mother, was already on the table, smelling tempting. The best atmosphere. Who was still missing was the Styrian. When he didn't answer his cell phone, the father went in search of him - and found his son. Buried under a spruce tree. The man from Upper Styria first had to cut his boy free with a saw. . . And there was nothing more he could do for him.

All help came too late for the young father.

(Bild: ZVg)

The young man, who was always absolutely safety-conscious and wearing brand new protective equipment and a helmet at work, had been hit by a spruce. Not even a mighty tree, but a comparatively slender one that had crashed precisely and fatally into his unprotected neck. What a mockery.

Hope and joy were buried with the father of the family
The hopes in the mountain farmhouse were also buried with the father. They try to hide the many tears from the baby, "the child has a right to grow up in happiness and security", says the mother. So they cry in secret, turn their heads away and go into the cowshed.

"I want to preserve the heritage and the family home for my child," says the young mother bravely. But what will happen to the farm now that the young farmer is no longer there and an entire generation of workers is no longer there? No one knows for sure. You can't really think about it either - when the grief almost overwhelms you. And also the money worries. Mom is on maternity leave, of course. And the father's bank accounts are frozen. At the moment, they have exactly nothing. .

Hope dies last, as the saying goes. However, the family has already had to bury their hopes of a happy future with happy children together with the Styrian. But they have not given up hope that the "Krone" family might be able to alleviate their worst financial worries. . .

If you would like to support: "Die Krone hilft - Steiermark", No. AT152081500044569523, reference Max. The funds go exclusively and 100 percent to the family and are also (please state date of birth) tax-deductible.