Rapid deployment

Wheelchair plunged into deep ditch

Operation after accident: The man fell five tenants deep into the ditch with his wheelchair. The fire department then carried out the rescue.

(Bild: FF Jois)

Dramatic scenes occurred at the weekend on a cycle path in the district of Neusiedl am See in Burgenland. A wheelchair user (44) lost control of his electric vehicle, went off the track and crashed over an embankment. 

The accident victim was trapped under the heavy wheelchair. A witness raised the alarm - large-scale fire and rescue operation!

Dramatic turn of events
The accident happened shortly after midday on Saturday in Jois. The weather was perfect for a summer outing. The trip of a 44-year-old man with his electric wheelchair on the Haniftal cycle path took a dramatic turn. The wheelchair suddenly left the road and plunged five meters into a ditch. A driver following behind witnessed the accident and her emergency call triggered a large-scale operation.

"Had to act quickly"
Paramedics from the Red Cross and the police were already at the scene of the accident when 21 members of the local fire department arrived. "We had to act quickly. The man was still trapped under the wheelchair," said the volunteers from Jois. The rescue in the rough terrain proved to be extremely difficult, but succeeded in a short time. The Red Cross and the fire department doctor were then able to immediately provide first aid to the 44-year-old from the district of Neusiedl am See. The injured accident victim had to be taken to hospital for further treatment.

Unevenness on the cycle path
It was initially unclear whether a technical defect or a driving error had caused the serious accident. However, initial investigations suggest that unevenness on the cycle path may have been the cause. "In any case, we hope that the patient will make a speedy recovery," said the emergency services.