All help came too late

Tractor driver killed by falling spruce tree

The spruce fell onto the tractor and killed the driver in Neukirchen an der Enknach(Bild: Pressefoto Scharinger/Daniel Scharinger)

Fatal forestry accident in Neukirchen/Enknach in Upper Austria: A 59-year-old man who was trying to help a forest owner with woodwork fell victim to carelessness. He had apparently overlooked the fact that the spruce tree was falling and drove his tractor directly underneath it. The attempt to change the direction of the fall and avert the accident was unsuccessful.

On Tuesday afternoon, at around 5.30 p.m., a 33-year-old man was carrying out forestry work with his harvester on his property in Neukirchen an der Enknach. Shortly before 7 p.m., an acquaintance of his, a 59-year-old, arrived with his tractor to carry out further forestry work together with the 33-year-old. It was agreed between the two that the 33-year-old would fell the last tree, a spruce, and then they would start working together.

Rescue operation failed
While the 33-year-old was felling the spruce with his harvester, the 59-year-old was a short distance away with his tractor. At the moment the spruce fell, the 59-year-old drove up with his tractor. The 33-year-old tried to change the direction of the fall with his harvester, but this was no longer possible due to the size and speed of the fall. The spruce fell directly onto the driver's cab of the tractor, fatally injuring the 59-year-old.