Serious injuries

Forestry worker falls 50 meters with tractor

After several rollovers over a steep slope, the tractor came to rest on its roof.(Bild: FF Frohnleiten)

Serious tractor accident in Frohnleiten: On Saturday, a 35-year-old Styrian fell down a steep slope with his tractor during forestry work and was thrown out of the cab after several rollovers. After a difficult rescue, the man was flown to Graz Regional Hospital with serious injuries.

On Saturday afternoon, a 35-year-old man was working with firewood on a forest road in the Gamsgraben when he suddenly seemed to have come too far backwards while reversing. The ground gave way and the tractor plunged backwards down a steep clear-cut. 

The tractor overturned several times and after about 50 meters the 35-year-old was thrown out of the driver's cab. While the man remained seriously injured, the tractor plunged a further 30 meters and came to rest in a ditch with total damage to the roof. 

Rescuing the injured man from the impassable terrain was a challenge for the emergency services (fire department, mountain rescue and rescue helicopter). The man was rescued by rope and flown to Graz Regional Hospital.