Civil courage proven

Woman floating motionless in the Mühlgang: three Graz residents save her life

(Bild: CHRISTIAN JAUSCHOWETZ)

A woman was adrift in the water of the Mühlgang in Graz on Wednesday morning. An eyewitness immediately jumped into the water and pulled the 22-year-old woman to shore, other passers-by initiated a perfect rescue chain.

Three passers-by living in the Jakomini district of Graz, aged between 31 and 39, showed true civil courage on Wednesday. A native Hungarian noticed a motionless person floating in the Mühlgang at Hergottwiesgasse 44 at around 7.30 am. The 39-year-old did not hesitate for a second, immediately jumped into the water and pulled the young woman (22) to the shore.

Meanwhile, two other witnesses (a woman and a man) called the emergency services. All three initiated first aid measures and thus set a perfectly functioning rescue chain in motion. Officers from the Kärntner Straße police station began chest compressions as soon as they arrived. This was supported by a defibrillator in the service vehicle.

At the end of 2023, the Styrian police force was equipped with defibrillators throughout the country.(Bild: Polizei)

Together with emergency services and other Graz police officers (Karlauer Straße and rapid intervention group), the first responders were able to restore the vital functions of the woman from Afghanistan after just 15 minutes. She was taken to the LKH, her condition is stable.