Drama in Dornbirn

53-year-old man killed by rotten tree

A tragic work accident with a fatal outcome occurred in the Rappenloch gorge in Dornbirn on Friday morning while felling wood. A 53-year-old man was the victim of a chain of highly unfortunate circumstances.

Together with two other men (76 and 44 years old), the 53-year-old was busy felling two trees in the "Unter der Alp" area, one of which was rotten. In order to prevent the rotten tree from falling onto a road below, it was secured to a supposedly healthy tree using a steel cable. 

The 76-year-old then sawed the tree properly, after which the 53-year-old pulled the steel cable using a tractor winch. That's when the accident happened: the supposedly strong trunk, to which the deflection was attached, broke off and fell towards the 53-year-old. 

According to a witness (44), he tried to avoid it but was hit in the head by the branches with full force. The two other lumberjacks immediately rushed to the aid of the seriously injured man and resuscitated him. The victim was then flown to Feldkirch Regional Hospital in the Christophorus 8 rescue helicopter. Shortly afterwards, the sad news came that the man had died.