Hail horror in Vienna

“Krone” reporter rescues man from flooded car

The quartet helped the young man out of the trapped Audi.

(Bild: Brandl Gregor/Krone KREATIV)

Hail horror, torrential rainfall on Saturday afternoon in Vienna. Underpasses were flooded within minutes. Traffic came to a standstill. "Krone reporter Ed Ricker showed civil courage near our press center in Döbling and rescued a young man from his car trapped in the water.

Within seconds, the heavens opened in the sweltering heat late on Saturday afternoon and rain that Vienna had not seen for months came crashing down. Hailstones demolished cars and underpasses around Heiligenstadt quickly resembled a swimming pool. Nevertheless, drivers continued their journeys - with dramatic consequences.

Victim was completely exhausted and panicked
When a young man in his black Audi wanted to pass under the bridge on Gunoldstraße, there was suddenly no going forwards or backwards. The man was helplessly at the mercy of the masses of water.

Ricker waded to the car to free the driver.

(Bild: Brandl Gregor)

Together they made their way back to land.

(Bild: Brandl Gregor/Krone KREATIV)

While many people pulled out their cell phones, colleague Ed Ricker, who was on his way home, showed civil courage (see photos above). Supported by three other volunteers, he waded through the current, knocked on the window and was finally able to encourage the now exhausted victim to leave the trapped vehicle.

The quartet led the boy to safety. "Thank you very much for your efforts" - that was all the Viennese could manage in the face of the shock. The emergency services did not arrive at the scene of the incident until ten minutes later.

The underpass in Gunoldstraße was the worst affected by the masses of water. The Viennese man's vehicle was rescued by the fire department.