Tragic accident

59-year-old from eastern Styria dies in forestry accident

Despite medical assistance from the C12 emergency helicopter, it was only possible to determine that the 59-year-old was dead.(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

Another fatal forestry accident, this time in Nitscha: on Wednesday afternoon, a 59-year-old man from the district of Weiz was hit by a tree while working in the woods. All help came too late for the man.

A 36-year-old and a 30-year-old, both from the district of Weiz like the later victim, were working in a forest. The 59-year-old wanted to help the two men - one of them is related to the other - and went into the forest shortly before 3 p.m. with a chainsaw and wearing work clothes. The forest is close to the man's home.

Tree torn out of the ground
At the time, the two younger men were in the process of felling a pine tree completely when the crown of an adjacent beech tree became entangled with the pine tree. The beech tree was torn out of the ground and fell on the 59-year-old man. 

Despite medical assistance and the deployment of the C12 emergency helicopter, the 59-year-old could only be pronounced dead. The police are investigating negligent homicide.