Lots of help for the family

Fatal accident: “Dad protects us from above”

The farm business must continue, and the widow is trying to keep it going with her older children.

(Bild: Christa Blümel)

A year ago, everything changed for a Styrian family: the father of the family died in a terrible tractor accident. His wife and three children were left behind on the mountain farm. The "Krone" family helped! Now the first Christmas without dad is just around the corner.

The farm is perched like an eagle's nest high up on the mountain, 1200 meters above sea level. The approach is adventurous, the abyss close by, as far as you can make it out in the thick fog. But in the kitchen, Mom creates a warm and cozy atmosphere. There's the gingerbread house, there's the Advent wreath. Everything as usual before Christmas. And yet everything is completely different this year.

Because this is the first Christmas without the father of the family, who died on January 7. There are photos of him in the Herrgottswinkel and a candle is burning.

"We are all far too sad"
"We won't be doing much this year, just a little tree for the little one," says the widow. "We're all far too sad." Especially five-year-old Dominik, who still can't believe it. "Somehow he hopes his beloved dad will be there for Christmas." But he won't. Never again. "He's protecting us from above," his mother comforts him.

We reported on it - and this is the fate that got under the skin of our readers the most this year as part of "Krone hilft". How the 47-year-old left the house on January 7th to take the tractor into the forest. How strange it was that the dog didn't want to get into the tractor this time, "that still surprised us all". Dominik wanted to accompany his dad. Was it a premonition? An uneasy feeling? "I didn't let him, it was so cold, so much snow."

Father of the family never came home
Dad never came home again. A neighbor watched in shock as the tractor started moving backwards on the steep terrain; unstoppable. Overturned. It came to a halt. Nobody got out. Deadly silence.

The "Krone" helps

• We know from a lot of feedback that it is extremely important to our readers that their donation goes exactly where they want it to go - we can promise you that. The money will be transferred exactly to the Styrian family that is in need through no fault of their own.
• Our campaign is also characterized by the fact that not a single cent is spent on bureaucracy or expenses - these costs are covered in full by the "Krone".
• Our account: "Die Krone hilft", AT152081500044569523. The donations are tax-deductible.

The widow often goes to this spot, lays flowers, talks to him. "I feel his presence, get advice." She needed a lot of advice because she was deeply distraught. The deep sadness. She didn't know what to do next. The threat of financial collapse loomed.

And then she stepped in, the "Krone" family. And how! "I don't even know how to say thank you. The fact that so many complete strangers thought of us and helped us makes me speechless, humble and so grateful. One thank you is never enough."

A second-hand tractor was purchased.

(Bild: Christa Blümel)

New tractor and financial cushion
At the family's request, we are not disclosing the amount donated - but it was an overwhelming amount. Enough to buy a second-hand tractor; the old one broke down in the accident. Without it, you are completely lost here on the mountain. In the meantime, the woman and her two older children are able to maintain the farm with its suckler cows and 30 animals; the three of them are working even harder than before, "but we are fighting for our home with all our might". And it was enough to cover their daily needs and create a financial cushion for the children.

Krone readers have lifted the family out of their deepest despair and given them hope in a hopeless situation. A new start. And proved it: This family can move mountains.